The Nampa School District may cut elementary school counseling, music and physical education teaching positions by 50 percent, in its latest attempt to cut costs.

The school board will discuss this latest round of cuts at its Tuesday night meeting.

All told, the deficit-riddled district could cut as many as 47.5 teaching positions.

The deepest cuts could come in elementary school counseling, music and physical education, according to a plan made public Friday. The district’s elementary schools have 14 counselors and just over 12 positions apiece in physical education and music, spokeswoman Allison Westfall said.

As much as possible, these cuts would be handled through attrition, the district says.

The district also plans to cut 15 secondary school teaching positions in non-core areas, and 10 to 15 elementary school teaching positions, also through attrition.

The district also will consider cuts in teachers’ supplemental contracts, in areas such as athletic coaching.

The district is battling a $5.1 million deficit. The teaching cuts could save the district $2 million.

Here’s more on the story from the Idaho Statesman’s Bill Roberts and the Idaho Press-Tribune’s Nick Groff.

Here’s the text of an email sent Friday to district employees:

The Nampa Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

The agenda is being finalized, but we wanted you to be aware of recommendations affecting certified staff next year.

On the agenda will be recommendations on reducing personnel costs in 2013-14.

The district will review its recommendation to reduce general fund certified staff by a minimum of 5 percent in 2013-14 through attrition — not replacing those who retire or resign — where possible.

The recommendation includes the following:

• Not replacing 15 positions in non-core subjects in secondary schools that will be open because of retirement or resignation.
• Not replacing between 10 and 15 positions in elementary schools that will be open because of retirement or resignation.
• Reducing counseling, music, and physical education positions in elementary schools by half or 17.5 positions through attrition where possible.

Also to be recommended will be eliminating supplemental contracts for freshman baseball and freshman softball and for the Board to consider a 5 percent reduction in supplemental contracts.

The district this week recommended a more than 7 percent reduction in administration which includes 4.5 FTE in school and district administrators.

On Tuesday, the district administration also will review the Reduction in Force Policy and the Administrative Rules and Regulations associated with the policy.