AUBURN — Superintendent Katy Grondin presented the School Committee on Wednesday with $300,000 worth of cuts requested by the City Council on Monday.

Among her recommendations are:

* Replace Land Lab teacher Jim Chandler with an education technician to save $39,333;

* Eliminate an elementary school teaching position to save $40,000;

* Eliminate a high school teaching position to save $40,000;

* Don’t replace a school bus to save $93,000;

* Cut special education tuition by $50,000; and

* Cut tuition reimbursement to teachers by $37,667.

“These are not easy decisions by any stretch,” Grondin said.

If the reductions are approved, the 2014-15 budget would go from $39.04 million to $38.29 million, a 3 percent increase over this year. Property taxes on a $150,000 home would go up by $58.

City Councilor Mary LaFontaine, the mayor’s representative on the committee, said a city ordinance requires annual spending increases to not exceed the consumer price index, which is 1.6 percent. To achieve that, the city budget would have to be reduced by $1.7 million.

“We were very clear we did not want the school budget to take the hit,” she said. “While $300,000 is a lot, the city budget will take a much greater hit.”

Committee member Ron Potvin questioned the logic of eliminating positions when the committee agreed to spend $93,944 to add new positions, such as an instructional coach, an English Language Learner cultural broker and education technician, and expanded sports at Auburn Middle School.

If the committee believes the instructional coach is not important to help customized learning, “we would look at the staffing at the high school to make that happen,” Grondin said. “Either way, we’d have an instructional coach.”

Potvin said he’d support the cuts. So did committee member Tom Kendall.

The administration is making cuts they wish they didn’t have to but is recommending what’s best, Kendall said.

“I don’t like it, but I will support it,” committee member Larry Pelletier said. The city side of the budget is struggling, public support is needed and, “I don’t care to go to a third referendum this time around.”

Last year, it took three votes to pass the budget.

Jim Berube, the parent of two students, asked that more be spent for education, that for too many years property taxes have remained basically unchanged. At some point, that will hurt Auburn, he said. “Teachers will lose jobs and services will be cut.”

Senior citizen Priscilla Miller disagreed. A lot of households live with fixed incomes while expenses are going up, she said.

“I was very heartened that this is going to happen,” Miller said of the City Council order to cut the proposed school budget.

Looking at LaFontaine, Miller said, “Mary, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can assure you there are many out there who thank you also. And Ron, you’re exceptional,” Miller said of Potvin, thanking him for looking for ways to curtail spending.

Chandler said he opposed eliminating his Land Lab position. A similar cut was proposed last year, but parents protested and it didn’t happen.

“Here we are again,” Chandler said.

The Land Lab promotes science and helps 900 students.

“You’re cutting the program that’s the envy of most school districts around the state for what small amount of money?” Chandler said.

Grondin said she understood Chandler’s passion, but the Land Lab would still be available to teachers. Instead of Chandler planning classroom visits, that responsibility would be on teachers.

The lab isn’t used as much as it used to be, Grondin said, because, for one reason, there’s less money to transport students.

Potvin said he favored keeping Chandler’s position and not spending money on a cultural broker. “There’s something in place we’re already doing. It’s not perfect, but it’s getting accomplished.”

Alfreda Fournier said the student-teacher ratio at Edward Little High School is 11-1, which is too low. She suggested cutting high school staffing and administration, saying staffing is too high for 1,000 students.

Parent Jamie Thibodeau said she supported the school budget. “You can only cut so much before it impacts students,” she said.

David Sawicki said iPads are a luxury and should be cut.

Lee Morin disagreed. “I have two children at Sherwood Heights. It’s a great tool. It’s better than any work sheet.”

The committee is scheduled to vote on the budget April 30. The public will vote on it at the polls June 10.