Local School District is "Financially Distressed"

The Department of Education decided Monday to put 11 Arkansas schools on the "financially distressed" list. The Pulaski County Special School District was one of them. At Tuesday night`s School Board meeting, Assistant Superintendent John Archetko presented a plan to balance the school district`s budget for next year. He says if the district continues spending money the way it is now, they will be $5.3 million dollars in debt. That`s why he presented a report to the board suggesting cuts to staff and programs. He recommends eliminating 7 teachers, 21 home and in school counselors, and 10 people from the central office. He also suggests the district eliminate mandatory open houses, lunch monitors, and in-school suspensions. He also says the district could save money by not giving teachers and staff pay raises next year and not buying new textbooks. In all, the cuts would save the district $9 million dollars, which could bring the schools of the state`s financially distressed list. The board did not take action Tuesday night on the recommendations, but will hold a special meeting on April 20th to decide what cuts to make. The district has until April 21st to submit a balanced budget plan to the Department of Education.