Jun 12, 2008 3:09 pm US/Eastern
Miami-Dade Struggles With School Budget Cuts
Crucial Budget Deadline Comes July 1st
Miami-Dade School Board Dealing With Quarter Billion Dollar Deficit
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Miami-Dade schools are facing possible layoffs and larger class sizes as the system struggles to deal with a quarter billion dollar deficit -- the result of state budget cuts and rising costs.
Thursday, Miami-Dade School Board members met to discuss and debate just where the axe should fall. They crunched the numbers in a sometimes contentious session as they looked for ways to close that quarter of a billion dollar deficit.
Superintendent Rudy Crew has already eliminated 800 teaching positions through attrition and more could be on the block plus, promised raises to teachers may not become reality. The board floated around the idea of reneging on teacher's raises.
"We should not bear the burden of this budget deficit that was contrived in Tallahassee by continuously giving back tax rebates to the wealthiest people in the state," stated Arti Leichner, United Teachers of Dade.
School police are also in the cross hairs. The union says some middle and high schools could lose their on-site officers.
"There's a difference between an administrator getting on the radio and calling an officer, "I need you here right now" to an officer in the building. Now you'll have to call 911 and the response time is going to be longer," explained Howard Giraldo of the School Police Union.
In addition to classroom teachers and officers, 125 cafeteria workers could be let go.
Critics say Superintendent Rudy Crew should cut more at the top, among school brass.
"The manner in which he's cutting the budget is not appropriate, it's unnecessary, he's cutting from the classrooms," said Maria Peiro, Save Dade Schools.
Crew would counter he's also cut $14 million in administrative costs.
Miami-Dade School Board member Solomon Stinson believes the 'blood-letting' is not over. "Nobody feels comfortable with having to lay people off. But I don't know how we do it without laying people off; I just don't see how we get there." He went on, "That oxes will be gored is certain, just whose remains to be seen."
School Board members made no decisions in Thursday's 'workshop, and did not solve the quarter billion dollar budget crisis. But push is quickly coming to shove. By law, they must have a budget in place July 1st.
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