LA school district chief warns of big deficit: "In the face of multimillion-dollar budget shortfalls, the superintendent of the giant Los Angeles Unified School District ordered spending cuts and froze hiring for some positions on Monday."
Superintendent Ramon Cortines said the nation's second-largest school district faces a deficit of $50 million to $60 million this school year and an estimated $480 million deficit next school year.
Exceptions will be made for classroom teachers, principals, assistant principals and other essential school-based positions, he said.
The cuts are necessary because of California's $20.7 billion budget shortfall next year, which might mean further cuts to the district's budget, Cortines said.
"It is imperative that we ensure that every dollar we spend is essential to the operation of this District, and more importantly, supports our instructional mission," he said.
Cortines also cut spending on travel, conferences, professional development contracts and food at district meetings.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/11/23/state/n172143S78.DTL&type=business#ixzz0XmXsbzTX
Superintendent Ramon Cortines said the nation's second-largest school district faces a deficit of $50 million to $60 million this school year and an estimated $480 million deficit next school year.
Exceptions will be made for classroom teachers, principals, assistant principals and other essential school-based positions, he said.
The cuts are necessary because of California's $20.7 billion budget shortfall next year, which might mean further cuts to the district's budget, Cortines said.
"It is imperative that we ensure that every dollar we spend is essential to the operation of this District, and more importantly, supports our instructional mission," he said.
Cortines also cut spending on travel, conferences, professional development contracts and food at district meetings.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/11/23/state/n172143S78.DTL&type=business#ixzz0XmXsbzTX