News

Actions

San Diego Unified School District considering major budget cuts

Posted at 8:08 AM, Feb 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-22 02:23:57-05

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education met Tuesday night to consider how to make up a $124 million budget shortfall predicted for next year.

While no decision was handed down Tuesday, the board vowed to continue deliberating and cut from the top down to meet their shortfall.

SD Unified Superintendent Cindy Marten sent a letter to parents and families over the weekend that assured them that the district will have a balanced budget next year. The letter alluded to a host of solutions that will be considered at Tuesday night's board meeting.

The district's budget is at $1.3 billion, but a decrease in state funding has led to the district's current budget situation.

Marten said her goal with the budget cuts is to protect students and keep class sizes small.

The board members and Marten plan to take cuts in their salaries and potentially lay off teachers, vice principals and campus police officers.

District officials will also work with the teachers union to offer early retirement to older, higher-paid teachers.