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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Elk Grove Citizen : News

Elk Grove Citizen : News

Local middle, high schools close for first furlough day



Photo by Keri Wood - Joseph Kerr Middle School is closed for the April 30 furlough day.

By Cameron Macdonald - Citizen News Editor
Published: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 4:54 PM PDT
More than 19,000 middle and high school students across the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) had a day off on April 30 when their campuses shut down for this school year’s first furlough day. The next furlough day for these schools is May 14.

Those two furloughs were a sacrifice approved by the majority of teachers in the Elk Grove Education Association (EGEA) in order to keep 29 middle and high school counselors employed for the next school year.

An estimated $2.5 million would be generated for the counselors, due to the two furloughs, EGUSD spokesperson Elizabeth Graswich said.

The EGUSD is facing an intense financial dilemma that includes a projected $60.5 million budget shortfall for the 2010-11 school year. The district is among numerous others that are suffering from deep state cuts in education funding, adding up to billions in the last two years.

EGEA President Tom Gardner emphasized that the furloughs “are a direct result of the lack of