School district to make many cuts to help growing deficit
San Diego school district trustees gathered in a meeting last week to talk about the possible decisions regarding their ever-growing deficit, which is now more than $180 million ever since voters denied a package of state ballot measures this month.
The trustees must resort to budget cuts in many areas including shutting down seven elementary schools; canceling the weeklong Old Town, Balboa Park and Palomar Mountain programs set up for fourth-, fifth-and sixth-graders; making class sizes larger; and firing many positions, which would be landscapers, elementary counselors, health technicians, librarians, vice principals and central office posts.
Budget consultant Phil Stover informed the board that they should have made these cuts a long time ago.
“In January, we took out a big knife. In May, now we’ve got a machete,” Stover said.
The board is expected to meet again on Tuesday to decide which programs to cut.
