Last Chance: Influence School Budget

You still have time to make your voice heard on the fiscal 2013 budget for the , but not much.

The Cobb Board of Education is holding a work session on Wednesday starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Central Office, 514 Glover Street, Marietta. At the start of the work session will be your final opportunity to make comments about the $841.9 million budget for the year beginning July 1.

The on a 6-1 vote April 26 uses five furlough days, a 175-day school year, a half-year delay in step pay raises, $21.2 million from the reserve fund and a reduction of 350 teaching jobs, among other cuts, to close a .

The school board expects to receive budget alternatives from Chief Financial Officer Mike Addison at that meeting. The board asked for an option with three furlough days, a 177-day school year and the restoration of elementary school library paraprofessionals to full time.

You also can post comments on the school district's budget page and at the bottom of this article to share your thoughts on the best ways to balance the budget.

The school board plans to enact the final budget at its .