The Albert Lea school board Monday night made a decision to cut 3 1/2 teachers from Albert Lea High School’s staff for the 2010-2011 school year.

The decision was made because of the smaller amount of students coming in next year.

“We’re graduating 270 students this year and we only have 225 coming in,” Principal Al Root said.

Minnesota schools are funded on a per-pupil basis.

Because of the declining enrollment the district will be receiving less funding, which may mean larger class sizes. They also will have 35 fewer sections of classes.

“Our class sizes have to increase a little bit,” Root said.

Root said there are four core areas of English, math, social studies and science. All the areas will be looked at and some changes will be made.

“We’re in the process of looking at some restructuring to be able to continue to offer a balanced curriculum for next year,” Root said.

Three teachers will be cut as well as one full-time position will be changed to a part-time position. The teachers will be told today. Watch Wednesday’s edition for an update.

School board member Bill Villarreal said the cuts were necessary.

“Economically, it was the right thing to do,” Villarreal said. “I doubt if we’ll be getting any monies from the state.”

Villareal also said there will be more work to do throughout the district later this year because three of the four elementary schools will be filled to capacity.

“We’re looking at different ways to restructure that,” Villarreal said.