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Friday, April 25, 2008
What would you put in the budget?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s budget time for area school districts. Regardless of the size of the system, leaders are stressing over the same problems: cuts in state funding, increased expenses and more students.
School leaders are making cuts as they try to balance their budgets without tax hikes. DeKalb County proposed giving all employees a 2.5 percent raise, but teachers would not get their customary step salary increases based on experience. Gwinnett County put off hiring additional school police officers.
Everyone has ideas on how to divvy up the pot of money. Teachers want their step salary increases. Some parents and teachers want more money for remedial math and reading programs. Others say schools need more security officers, more library books and smaller class sizes.
All these wishes can’t be granted. So let me ask you this: How would you spend the money? What would you protect and what would you cut?
NOTE: Statewide scores on the Georgia High School Graduation Test are out. Read the report here.
