SWEETWATER COUNTY – The Sweetwater County Child Development Center board eliminated the program director position at a special meeting July 1. The regional director of the CDC will now take on the tasks that were once performed by two program coordinators, one in Rock Springs and one in Green River.

Marilyn Flammang was the previous program coordinator for Rock Springs and Micki Pence managed the Green River facility.

Flammang said she was told very little other than that her dismissal was effective immediately by Ann Owen, the current regional director who announced her retirement at a recent CDC Board of Directors meeting.

CDC Board Chair Cristy Magagna said the decision was made for financial reasons as the organization must cut its budget.

“This was part of the $250,000 in cuts we had to make. We felt that we should make cuts to the administration and regional office and not to classrooms and direct services to children,” Magagna said in a message to sweetwaternow.com.

Owen carried out the decision of the board as directed, Magagna said.

“Other budget cuts were made in the areas of postage, printing, equipment, maintenance, travel and supplies. No services directly related to children will be cut and no reduction in classrooms,” Magagna said. “The board is actively searching for a new coordinator and we feel he or she can effectively run both facilities. The CDC staff will begin cross-training where they can to help out.”