Twenty-one full-time Stroudsburg Area School District teaches will be demoted after a tense vote during Wednesday's board meeting.

The board voted, 6-2, on a resolution that demoted the teacher positions from full time to part time. Board members Judy Magann and Jake Jakobsen were the dissenting votes. Richard Pierce was absent and did not vote.

The demotions are spread through various areas in the district.

According to the resolution, as of the close of business on June 30, the demotions will occur in 13 academic departments and distributed as follows: one English, two social studies, one math, two science, three reading, one world language, one health/physical education, four special education, one psychologist, one elementary, one art, one instructional assistant and two permanent substitutes.

Superintendent Cosmas Curry introduced the plan at a March school board meeting.

Board member Merlyn Clarke said this was a difficult vote, but said the public needs to understand that even after raising taxes to the maximum, the district would still not be able to balance the budget.

Cindy Blake tried to make a statement during the vote, but couldn't.

The demotions do not include those who retire or resign. There would be no part-time staff hired to replace anyone who is demoted.

This is one way the district is trying to cut down on spending in next year’s budget, which is facing a $2.5 million deficit and not enough in the reserve fund to make up for it.

The school district is facing a reduction in state education subsidies, a reduction of local tax revenues due to the decline in real property values and a limit on tax increases imposed under the Act 1 index, the resolution says.

The administration has also looked at trying to find ways to cut spending to achieve a balanced budget for the 2016-17 school year.

“… Valid economic and financial considerations, including the realization of economic savings in the fact of a budgetary deficit, are a proper justification for a demotion,” the resolution reads. “… Significant economic savings will be realized through the reduction of certain full time professional staff to part time status…”

Taxes for district residents could also raise 3.1 to 5.1 percent, if passed, to help make up the deficit.