Cobb Schools May Cut 350 Jobs

The Cobb County School District's projected fiscal year 2013 deficit is less than originally suggested, but the district could lay off as many as 350 employees, tag on more furlough days and increase class sizes according to The Marietta Daily Journal.

This week Chief Financial Officer Mike Addison reported to the school board that the $73 million deficit he told them about in October has been reduced to $62.4 million.

But in an effort to further reduce the budget shortfall, Addison suggested several cost-cutting measures. Among those, increasing class sizes by two; adding three more furlough days for a total of five; delaying a salary step increase; eliminating 50 media professional jobs and more.

The budget report can be viewed here. 

Also on Wednesday, board member David Banks East Cobb's Post 5 failed in his attempt to place the school calendar issue on next week's meeting agenda. 

"I wish this was not a topic we're still discussing, but it's important to a lot of people. Lots of teachers and parents in my post, and others, have talked to me about it. I don't believe the calendar will change. None of the four people who wanted to change last February are going to change," Lynnda Eagle of Post 1 said. "I'd like us to look at going to school right up until Christmas and not starting again until the 10th," as happened this school year.

Board member Kathleen Angelucci reminded the board that it had already voted on the calendar. "The fact it's brought up continuously, almost on a monthly basis, is a waste of this board's time. It is a done deal. We already have a calendar for next year."

Banks, who represents the ,  and  high school districts, shot back that the board was wrong when it  to change it because in November 2010 the previous board voted for a three-year calendar. This board chose to change that balanced calendar to a more traditional calendar.

"Are you going to represent your constituents, and if not, why are you here?" he asked.

Banks requested that the 2012-13 school calendar issue be placed on the agenda for discussion.

The motion failed on a 5-2 vote, with only Eagle backing Banks.

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