Wharton High's theatre director may soon be taking his final bow at the school.

James Warren has been notified that his position is being eliminated as part of the district's budget cuts.

"I'm frankly in shock," he said.

Warren said he's taught in Hillsborough County schools for more than 30 years, and he started the drama program at Wharton when the school opened in 1997.

"It's been my home, and I don't think my car knows anywhere else to go after coming here for 24 years," he said.

During his tenure, Warren has helped students put on numerous award-winning productions, and he was inducted into the Education Theatre Association's Hall of Fame in 2018.

"When I started here, it was literally a dirt floor. Since then, we've won awards at the District level and moved on to State where we've gotten superior ratings. I guess that doesn't matter. I'm in a position now where everything I've built is hanging in limbo and has been for about a month," he said.

Warren said he was told his position is being eliminated because he doesn't have enough students.

He admits enrollment is down but blames the pandemic which caused live, in-person productions to go dark for most of the school year.

"We have been really hamstrung by that. That is our major recruitment tool because when people see it and go "I love that. I want to do that."  Then, that is why they join," he said. "I compare it to trying to recruit players for a football team when you can't play football."

Wharton High School's theatre program will continue with someone else in charge.

Warren has been told he can go into the district's applicant "pool" to try to find a job at a different school, but he said there aren't many openings for theatre teachers.

"If I can't find a job, I may have to move," he said. "We're hearing about teacher shortages in other places so I guess I might have to try to find a job somewhere else. I love to teach, but I also love this school and would prefer to stay here."

Warren said it's not the ending he'd write for himself.

"I had a picture of myself leaving at my retirement and maybe leaving the program in the hands of somebody, maybe even a former student who was competent and going to carry on what we've built, and walking out with one last wave to the crowd," he said.

Warren said they are still hoping to get more students enrolled in the program.

Students interested in learning more can contact lsarep@yahoo.com​ or lsabooster@yahoo.com

The high school did gain positions in other areas.

District officials have said that cuts and realignments are necessary to make up for a multi-million dollar budget deficit that's been years in the making.