Cobb school board details budget shortfall Thursday

By Mary Lou Pickel

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Cobb County School Board could ask for six teacher furlough days and increased class sizes among its list of possible budget cuts for next school year.

School Board Chairwoman Lynnda Crowder-Eagle has called a special meeting Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at the school board office to discuss next year's budget.

"We're facing a shortfall in the next fiscal year to the tune of $100 million-plus," said Doug Goodwin, a school district spokesman. "We've not determined what those changes and cuts will be." The district's 2011 fiscal year begins July 1.

Increasing class sizes to the maximum allowed would save about $53 million, according to school board estimates.  "It's possible that could lead to teacher layoffs, but obviously we would like to be able to address that to the highest degree possible through attrition and retirements," school board spokesman Jay Dillon said.

To increase class sizes in kindergarten, the district would go from a student-teacher ratio of 1:19 to 1:22. In first through third grades it would increase from 1:20 to 1:23. In fourth through fifth grades it would go from 1:27 to 1:30. In the sixth through eighth grades it jumps from 1:23.5 to 1:30. In grades nine through 12, the ratio increases from 1:26 to 1:32.

Among possible cuts outlined by Superintendent Fred Sanderson this week are eliminating 100 buses and their corresponding routes, delaying salary increases for employees, reducing 112 custodian positions and restructuring the alternative education program.

The district also could eliminate free transportation for athletics, reduce coaching supplements, reduce 69 supervisory, support and clerical positions and cut the central office budget by 20 percent.