HUNTSVILLE, AL—
Huntsville City Schools are facing massive budget cuts. The School District is more than $16 million short for the upcoming school year, and that means not just cutting back, but cutting jobs.Right now, the School Board is suggesting laying off 151 teachers, 17 and a half assistant principals and 11 counselors.
They say lack of funding will force them to cut more than $12 million worth of jobs and $4 million in other areas.
Not only has the economy hurt funds statewide, but also locally. This downturn has caused the school system to go in major debt. Now they're outlining a plan to help them operate within their means.
Superintendent Ann Roy Moore says the state's education budget keeps changing, so that means the schools' budget will likely change, too. Right now, she says the school district has to trim more than $16 million.
"I anticipate that that 16 million will probably increase," Dr. Moore said.
"You're stripping away the foundation yet again of education if you take away the teachers," Hampton Cove Middle School PTA President Cindy Lewis said.
The plan is to layoff non-tenured teachers first.
"On or before May 24, we have to notify teachers and others of whatever kind of action we have to take," Dr. Moore said.
The Superintendent says class size will increase; high school and middle school teachers will teach about 150 students a day.
Moore says the School District has to find a way to cut another $7 million dollars by April 1. She says the School District's budget cut will amount to about $23 million.
Moore says she'll announce the budget recommendation to the board next month.
