The DeKalb County School System unveiled five plans today to curb an $88 million deficit while compiling the school system’s 2011 budget.
Each of the plans call for the closing of four of the county’s elementary schools and laying off more than 150 people in the school system central office staff.
One plan still includes the controversial cuts to the county’s magnet and Montessori programs and a property tax rate increase of 2 mills.
“These are just options,” DeKalb County Board of Education chair Thomas Bowen said after the plans were unveiled during a board work session held this morning at teh central office. “We are not bound to what we see.”
The board began its budget process in January with an expected deficit of about $50 million.
That figure jumped to $88 million last month due to slumping property tax collections related to the staggering economy.
Each of the five plans also increases class sizes by as much as two students per teacher.
The board has until May to finalize its budget proposal.
The board is scheduled to adopt a tentative budget on April 12.
There are two public hearings scheduled for April 21 and April 28 before the board officially adopts the spending plan at its May 10 meeting.
According to figures released at today’s meeting, the school system will save about $11 million with the layoffs.
The schools closings will result in a savings of about $2.3 million.
Specifics on which schools would be closed were not released at the meeting. A special task force has been convened to make recommendations to the board. Those recommendations are scheduled to be released this month.
District 5 board member Jay Cunningham urged the school system to have a detailed plan of how to disperse the students.
“I don’t want to do anything to hamper our goals,” he said during the meeting. “I want to make sure we have a clear plan before we move.”
Other options on the table include:
n The elimination of 200 para-professionals - $6.5 million.
n 5 percent across the board pay cuts - $26.5 million.
n Furlough days (at least seven) – $26.5 million.
Cunningham also said he wanted to look into outsourcing options and an early retirement program to help save funds.