School board fails to implement cuts in approved budget

Last month, after weeks of debate, the DeKalb County school board closed its budget deficit with nearly $80 million in cuts.

Or they thought they did.

On Wednesday, the board blinked when it came time to make the tough decisions needed to implement those cuts.

After talking it over, board members realized they didn't have enough votes to approve job cuts needed to shave $20.5 million in salary and benefit costs.

Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson had asked the board to eliminate 250 teacher positions and 120 paraprofessionals.

Board Chairman Eugene Walker called a time out, saying the meeting would reconvene Thursday at 10 a.m. at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain.

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