DeKalb schools to announce layoff plan

DeKalb County schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis today will announce budget-slashing plans expected to include a number of staff cuts for non-teaching jobs.

What’s being billed as a “comprehensive restructuring plan” will be presented to school board members at a 1:30 p.m. non-voting meeting. It is one of several downsizing proposals the system faces this year in the wake of a sour economy and state budget cuts.

Board members told Lewis to reduce staff during budget talks this spring, as the board and Lewis grappled with growing costs and fewer dollars. Salaries and benefits make up 91 percent of the system’s $894.1 million general operations budget.

Lewis’ goal is to reduce that to 86 percent.

Earlier this week, board members approved an early retirement proposal for 142 central office employees. System officials last month also proposed cuts in student busing designed to save DeKalb about $4 million annually.