| The Cleveland Board of Education approved a | | | | $6 million in Medicaid monies which are used |
| new budget with millions of dollars in cuts. | | | | to provide speech, hearing and occupational |
| The cuts are so drastic that there are some | | | | therapists for needy students. Another $6 |
| employees of the Cleveland Schools who don't | | | | million in general funds from the revised |
| know if they have jobs next school year. Some | | | | state budget will also be lost to Cleveland |
| non-instructional union employees, such as | | | | Schools. |
| cleaners, custodians and clerical workers, | | | | |
| will most definitely see job cuts. Other | | | | The state Senate changed its proposed |
| non-union jobs are also at risk. | | | | two-year education budget in May. Cleveland |
| | | | Schools would have received a half-percent |
| Chief of Staff, Lisa Marie Ruda, said | | | | increase in state aid in 2006 and 1.2 percent |
| specific numbers won't be known until early | | | | more in 2007 under the originally proposed |
| next week, when district officials finish | | | | budget. However the revised plan that Gov. |
| adding up positions already lost to | | | | Taft must approve does not provide any |
| retirement or attrition. In the recent weeks, | | | | increases for Cleveland Schools at all. |
| over 500 teachers and paraprofessional | | | | |
| educators throughout Cleveland Schools have | | | | There are two sets of employee groups within |
| received layoff notices; some effective | | | | the Cleveland Schools who will be saved from |
| immediately and others in the fall. These | | | | layoffs. Bus drivers, who had about 130 |
| recent cuts are reflective of $35.4 million | | | | lay-offs last winter, will be among those. |
| in salaries and benefits from last school | | | | Also the Cleveland Schools will not cut |
| year. Last month the Cleveland Schools voted | | | | security officers because they are needed to |
| to close 22 schools in order to save money. | | | | keep students in the high schools safe and |
| Over the past three years there have been | | | | secure. The bus system itself is being looked |
| over $100 million in cuts. And on August 2nd | | | | at carefully. An outside company hired by |
| voters will be asked to approve a tax | | | | Cleveland Schools, TransPar Group, will be |
| increase that could raise an additional $48 | | | | looking into the district's transportation |
| million for the Cleveland Schools. | | | | program. This is a move to privatize the |
| | | | management of this department after it was |
| The Cleveland Schools CEO, Barbara | | | | involved in a number of complaints and |
| Byrd-Bennett,blamed the slashes on the state | | | | scandals. |
| cuts. Cleveland Schools could lose as much as | | | | |