Despite Scott’s $1 Billion Increase, Local School Boards Still Facing Cuts
From Leslie Postal in the Orlando Sentinel:
Scott demanded more money for public schools this year, and the Legislature agreed. But the increase lawmakers approved won’t lead to bigger budgets for local districts this year.
Per-student funding will go up an average of $150. But last year, lawmakers slashed an average of $585 for each student. Making matters worse, thousands of new students are expected to enroll during the next school year, adding to districts’ costs. And the federal stimulus money that helped shore up school districts this school year will run out, leaving a budget gap.
Bottom line: Local school boards likely will need to make cuts for the coming school year.
The Seminole County school district, for example, estimates that about $16 million must be sliced