That's exactly what the state of Delaware and the Minner-Carney administration plan to do:
Delawareonline:

Hundreds of teachers could be laid off, students may not get new textbooks and after-school programs could be cut if public schools across the state have to implement the most severe education budget cut in more than a decade.

Jennifer "JJ" Davis, director of the state Office of Management and Budget, has asked the state's 19 district superintendents and 17 charter school leaders to identify 8 percent of their budgets that could be cut for fiscal year 2009, which starts July 1. Davis also asked elected officials, state agency directors, higher-education institutions and all Cabinet secretaries to identify 8 percent cuts for the coming fiscal year.

In March, the Office of Management and Budget asked every state agency to return to the state a collective $100 million to $150 million from their current fiscal-year budgets because of revenue shortfalls. Public schools were exempt from that request, but after the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council announced last month that projected revenues for the current fiscal year will come up $126 million short, with a $200 million shortfall projected for next fiscal year, public education had to be part of the solution, Davis said.

The General Assembly has to find $250 million to cut from the entire state budget -- of which one-third belongs to public education, Davis said.

Therefore, the Department of Education, school districts and charter schools must identify a collective $85 million to cut.

. . .

And when personnel is the largest part of every district's budget, layoffs are likely, many district superintendents said.

In Christina, the state's largest district, principals held meetings with their staff this week to inform them of potential cuts.

"We were told that there will be about 120 teachers laid off. There won't be any summer school or any after-school programs for extra help and tutoring," said Paul Sedacca, a fourth-grade teacher at McVey Elementary School.

"The first answer everyone has is to lay off the teachers," he said. "Laying off more people is like a Band-Aid. That will work for now but not for the long term."

Teachers aren't the only ones who could lose their jobs. Positions ranging from secretary and custodian to paraprofessional are at risk.

This is an outrage. What about all those trips abroad Minner made? Where else can the state cut from?

Robbing kids of teachers and music, art, and after-school program is unacceptable. Someone should strike over this.

Labels: Delaware, Education

Posted by Ryan S. on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 1:26 PM | Permalink |