SPANISH FORT, Ala.—With 330 positions slashed from Baldwin County’s education budget, Spanish Fort schools have certainly not been spared the anguish and frustration of eliminated positions and the reality of increased class sizes as the state grapples with proration, but the local feeder schools are counting a few blessings for being both younger and smaller than some of their more established counterparts across the county.

Spanish Fort Middle School, for instance, has lost 14 employees—both teachers and support personnel—in the layoffs, 12 of which are positions that have been eliminated entirely.

“It means we just have to run this school with a lot less people, and that is especially challenging as our student population is growing,” SFMS Principal Carol Palumbo said.

See the rest of this story in the May 7 Spanish Fort Sun.