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School Board Approves Budget with $20-million in Cuts

February 09, 2012|Mike Ross | Channel 2 News

The Anchorage School Board late Thursday night approved a budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year that trims about $20-million in spending. The vote was 7-0 in favor of the budget proposal.

During final debate, school board members talked about the struggle they've faced balancing the budget while trying to lessen the impact on students in the classroom.

Board member Crystal Kennedy said "it's not like we found extra money somewhere...we didn;t...we just rearranged...but there's still a $20-million cut and absolutely that means some people lose their positions in the district, and that's a bad thing"

Superintendent Carol Comeau hopes state legislators will provide additional funding to the school system. Comeau told the board "we still have a lot of positions that are gonna be lost that are making significant impacts so hopefully we can tell our story well enough to get additional revenue"

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An ASD spokeswoman said the budget still eliminates summer school programs. A summary from ASD  shows that other proposed cuts were eased by shifting funds within the budget proposal. Those included:

Restoring class size in grades 4-5 to 25.25 instead of 28

Restoring class size in grade 6 to 26.25 instead of 28

Restoring maintenance positions

Restoring elementary librarians

Restoring Special Ed counselors

Restoring cuts to gifted program

Restoring graduation coaches.

According to ASD, parts of the budget that were cut to restore those services were:

Reduce maintenance projects funds

School Board travel

Eliminate West Master Plan Facilitator

Reduce legal fees

Eliminate one additional Ed Tech Position (total reduction of 2)

Eliminate Assessment & Evaluation position

Eliminate Non-school clerical positions (number TBD)

Reduce Middle School unallocated funds

Reduce High School unallocated funds

Reduce Funds for pending negotiations

Reduce Equipment replacement fund

Reduce Attrition salaries

Reduce Attrition benefits

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