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Sep 19, 2008 11:01 pm US/Central
DISD Board Declares Financial Emergency
Compiled By Staff Reports
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Teachers in the Dallas Independent School District are anxiously awaiting news about job cuts.
Friday, the school board met at DISD headquarters to decide how to make up for a
$64 million miscalculation. The money was used to hire new teachers. Now, more than 600 of those positions will be cut.
The meeting, which was held at district headquarters, was overflowing with concerned parents, teachers and staff. Outside, children and parents protested. One child carried a sign which read, "IT'S NOT OUR TEACHERS OR STUDENTS FAULT."
"They are going to have crowded classrooms," said a woman holding up a protest sign. "My kids aren't going to get the individualized attention that they need – or any of our kids."
The declaration paves the way for immediate layoffs, but the board also voted to hold off cutting jobs until at least next Thursday.
The deficit will grow, however as the district spends $1 a week on salaries for money they say they don't have. With those numbers, the shortfall could swell to $84 million.
"All of this money was spent on teachers and students," said Dr. Hinojosa. "But we have to stay within our means."
Cutting 655 jobs would save the district about $46 million. Hinojosa, who earns $334,000 a year, announced a voluntary cut in pay of almost $17,000 from his salary. The amount is five percent of his salary, which represents the five percent budget problem facing the district right now.
"When you are not able to do the basics as far as balancing the budget, we consider that not an error, that's almost a criminal act," said Anthony Peterson, a parent of child who attends a DISD school.
"None of us like this," said Dr. Hinojosa. "But if you look at the spreadsheet that Jack's referring to, you got to see where the big buckets of dollars are and it's not pretty, but that's what it is."
The board will meet again at the same time next week to discuss implementing the cuts.
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