Avonworth High School students who will be scheduling classes for next year will find three new social studies electives, thanks to the addition of a position for a social studies teaching position.

The school board voted at Monday's regular meeting to create the position, and approved economics, American conflicts, and conspiracy theories as electives.

Director of curriculum Dr. Shannon Varley told board members last week that without another teacher, the district would be forced to cut social studies electives.

Board member Frank Mucha questioned whether Avonworth should be adding staff. The district is anticipating tax increases to fund pension contributions, and plans to expand the elementary school.

"We can't ignore the upper levels," board member Marybeth Sommers replied, saying that the board had voted in the past to add positions at the elementary and middle schools.

Board member Brenda Barlek agreed that the need for the position was there, but said it was bad timing financially. She challenged the administration to come up with suggestions to offset the cost of the position.

Superintendent Dr. Valerie McDonald said that she already had started a list of where the district might be able to save money, and said that administrators will continue to look closely at the budget.

The new position was approved in a 6-1 vote, with Mucha opposed. The electives were approved unanimously.

Board members Jeff Schmid and Peter McKay were absent.