Decatur Schools may have to trim $2 million

DECATUR: Schools may have to trim $2 million

By Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Decatur City Schools officials —- facing the same sour economy and state funding cuts as other systems —- say they may be forced to cut $2 million out of next school year’s budget.

Some budget-trimming measures are almost a given, including fewer work days in summer, less training and cuts to alternative education and after-school programs. But Decatur schools Superintendent Phyllis Edwards said the system will likely have to go further, to a “point at which people and programs are affected,” according to a letter sent this week to school board members.

That may include cuts to the system’s elementary-age foreign language program and teacher cuts, Edwards said.

No action on the budget is imminent. Rather, Edwards has begun planning and will refine the proposal during the next several months. She plans to have an open meeting with the community in December to talk about possible cuts.

The system increased by 1 mill this school year the property millage rate it charges homeowners to pay for schools. That was the first city school millage increase after four years of rate reductions.

The system’s general fund budget is $37 million. Edwards said she would not recommend another millage rate increase for next year.

Decatur’s budget discussions have started a week after DeKalb County school officials approved plans to cut more than $20 million by next year, including expected layoffs in June of 127 employees.