D-11 School Board Still Looking at Budget Cuts
Save Email Print
Bookmark and Share
Updated: 8:27 AM Mar 10, 2010
D-11 School Board Still Looking at Budget Cuts
Colorado Springs
Board members from the largest school district in the area are going line by line, cutting millions of dollars out of next year's budget for Colorado Springs schools.
Posted: 10:42 PM Mar 9, 2010
Reporter: Rick Montanez
Email Address: RMontanez@kktv.com
width:270 and height: 198 and picwidth: 218 and pciheight: 159
Font Size:

Board members from the largest school district in the area are going line by line, cutting millions of dollars out of next year's budget for Colorado Springs schools.

The cuts have many parents worried about their children's future. That's why the board is having a tough time balancing this budget. Tuesday night they started on line 54 of 139 and they worked through each item, all of which are cuts to departments and programs.

Rochelle Schlortt is worried what the cuts may do to her kid’s education, "We all worry that our children are going to suffer."

She’s worried because the 139 programs in the first part of the budget only account for about 7-million dollars in cuts. The district still needs to slash another estimated 9-million dollars. "We won't have the School Finance Act until May, which will really lock in the data to know what our reductions must be," said District 11 School Board President Tom Strand.

Next, the board will need to work through other cost cutting measures like possible furlough days, pay cuts or even layoffs. “I'm hoping, and I think most of the board is hoping, we can stay away from those type of drastic cuts that affect people's livelihoods," said Strand.

As for Rochelle, she's just nervous about the school board's final decisions. "We choose our schools based on the programs they offer, and are those programs still going to be in place," Rochelle asked. We'll find out the answer to that in the coming weeks.

Wednesday night there is a school board meeting where the district will decide whether to accept all of the changes laid out in this preliminary budget.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Sheish Location: D11 parent on Mar 10, 2010 at 09:31 AM

I moved my daughter to Dist 11 (DHS)from private school for the programs this school offers. Now to hear they are looking into these huge budget cuts. WOW. I only hope this will not effect the kids. The parents pay for all the odd and ends right now, what else will they have to help pay for. Yes I do agree the Administraion is Top heavy. So don't take the teachers, don't take the programs........ this WILL take from the kids. These teachers need jobs, the children need their honest hard working supporter to help guide them. If any mone should get a pay cut...... let us start at the top. Say 10% - 15%. Who knows???
Posted by: Todd Location: Baghdad on Mar 9, 2010 at 10:51 PM

They can cut some of those top heavy overpaid Administrators for starters. Then continue with the teachers that aren't performing up to standards, regardless of what the Unions are saying. After all, "children first" right?
KKTV.com Features

KKTV and our Partners are proud to make Moms life easier…click here for more information

Click here for more information from our local health care specialists.

Do you have a story idea? Want to report breaking news? Call our newsroom at (719) 578-0000 or e-mail News@kktv.com.

Click Here to have KKTV come to your school!

Watch full episodes of your favorite CBS shows right here on KKTV.com.
Latest Blogs
  • EAT IT: Almonds - (Stacia Naquin)
    Keep your energy up when things get crazy. All you have to do is keep this super food handy at your desk.
  • Beware of Crooks Using Best Buy's Name (Betty Sexton)
    Crooks just sent a message to an 11News smartphone. It claims we've been selected for a $1,000 shopping spree. It's all a bunch of baloney!
  • Make a quick $250, hardly! (Betty Sexton)
    Thanks to Christine for telling me about this scam. She received a check in the mail from a group using the name American Consumer Opinion. It wasn't the legitimate Texas research company... just a crook looking to rip her off!
  • Treat It Like Thanksgiving - (Stacia Naquin)
    You don't have to sit on the sidelines at that Super Bowl party just because you vowed to make 2012 a healthier year. Here's some advice to keep yourself on track, after indulging during the season's biggest game!
  • "Be Prepared" is Good Motto for Storm Coverage
    Over in the KKTV 11 Weather Center, the radar's showing the snow moving in. Chief Meteorologist Brian Bledsoe says this storm has the potential to bring the most snow we've seen in 5 and 1/2 years, so it is "all hands on deck" and "batten down the hatches", as the newsroom makes its own preparations for this Groundhog Day Storm.