Next week could be historic for the Fayette County School System as the five board members hold two meetings and two possible public hearings to decide on staff reductions and other emergency cost-cutting measures to offset $14.5 million in budget shortfalls beginning July 1.

Up to 157 people, mostly teachers, may lose their jobs. Superintendent John DeCotis said that as of Feb. 13 approximately 64 teachers had informed the school system that they would not be returning to the classroom next year. Approximately 15 of the positions currently up for reductions are from the central office.

DeCotis said late last week the county’s tenured teachers more than likely would not be impacted by the reductions. Specific to Fayette County, those tenures include teachers with four or more years in the county school system or those that were tenured in other school systems and have two years in the Fayette system, he said.

Other items up for a decision are potential reductions in the various employer-paid insurance premiums, charging out-of-county tuition for the children of school system employees not residing in Fayette County and an across the board pay cut of 2.5 percent or more for all employees.

The proposed budget cuts were most recently announced as recommendations from the school system’s Budget/Allotment Committee, a group that included administrative and central office personnel but no classroom teachers.

Previous budget reductions include voluntary furlough days for some school system administrative employees and mandatory furlough days for some non-contracted employees.

The board will convene a regular meeting Monday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. Discussions on Feb. 23 will determine whether public hearings are needed Feb. 25 and 26. A voting meeting will be held Feb. 26 at the conclusion of the second public hearing if it is needed.

The board is expected to vote up or down on a number of measures that have been batted around for many months.

DeCotis said the school board was considering holding some of the meetings, particularly those on Feb. 26, at another location that would accommodate a larger number of people attending.

DeCotis in a Feb. 11 letter to school system employees said the public hearings will be conducted if the board feels pay cuts are necessary.