Mar 7, 2008 7:12 pm US/Eastern
Budget Cuts Get Rid Of Part-Time Teachers' Aides
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
It is news parents didn't want to hear: Another round of budget cuts is affecting teachers and students directly in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
"I don't feel good about it; it's not right, not right," said parent Betty Robertson.
This week Miami-Dade County Public Schools took another financial hit from the state to the tune of $29.2 million. It's the latest round of cuts affecting teachers and students, even though Superintendent Rudy Crew promised that would not happen.
"This school needs all the help it can get, it doesn't need budget cuts," said parent Joan Gonzalez.
She's referring to three part time teachers' aides who have been told to no longer report to work at Naranja Elementary School, leaving teachers and students without the extra help they need.
"Education should come first; that's why we need a lot of changes in the state regarding the politics and everything that's going on," said Gonzalez.
The cuts also affect hourly part time workers in other areas district- wide, like transportation and food services. Worried about the quality of her child's education, Gonzalez told us she planned on taking action.
"I'm going to probably move her to a different school," she said.
The following pointers were provided in a press release regarding the budget cuts:
Over the last year, M-DCPS has taken a number of steps to address these funding cuts and avoid affecting services to students:
· Budgets already have been reduced in all areas except full-time positions by $91.5 million.
· A moratorium was placed on non-essential hourly and overtime expenditures, travel, and purchases or new commitments requiring the use of general fund dollars.
· A hiring freeze was imposed, including hourly staff, except for direct classroom staff.
· Cabinet and Regional Superintendents have reviewed their budgets and made appropriate reductions.
· A list of suggestions was presented to the Commissioner of Education and legislators to give the District more spending and compliance flexibility.
Funding for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2008, will be based on this year's funding levels, after reductions, and may be at the same level or even decreased further. Estimated funding cuts for the next fiscal year may reach $200 million. The school district continues to strategize for these anticipated cuts and will discuss plans at a workshop to be held at the School Board Administration Building, 1450 N.E. Second Avenue, Room 726, on Monday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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