Faced with a multimillion-dollar deficit, the Claremont School District is making desperate last-minute cuts so it can afford to open for the first day of school on Thursday.

The school board announced Monday that it was cutting $1.25 million in staff. Officials also plan to reduce costs by canceling all non-required extracurricular activities, including athletics, for the entire school year — unless the community steps forward and covers the costs.

“I’ve asked the school board to cut those, (and) at a future meeting, to receive donations and sponsorships to help fund those, to make sure that kids are going to do sports and other activities,” said Matthew Angell, interim business administrator.

The school board plans to hold a public hearing Sept. 3 to discuss accepting donations, gifts

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