Walton PTSA Decries Teacher Cuts

The Walton High School PTSA has sounded off on the proposed fiscal year 2014 budget for the Cobb County School District, particularly as it relates to suggested teacher cuts and classroom size.

The Cobb Board of Education has called for a work session today at 2 p.m. to discuss revisions in the proposed budget, which seeks to close a projected deficit of $86.4 million.

In an e-mail message sent out this morning (and linked here on its Facebook page), the Walton PTSA opposed a proposed 226 teaching cuts through attrition (the original proposal was for 295 reductions).

"Additionally, also under consideration could be cutting all media professionals and all music, art and band teachers, and potentially even offering a 4 day school week -- with longer days Monday - Thursday!" the message continued, asking readers to contact school board members, including Scott Sweeney, who represents the Walton district.

The art, music and band options are what district officials are calling "below the line," or options for board members to consider in addition to formal proposals that are "above the line."

Board members Kathleen Angelucci, of Northeast Cobb, and David Banks, of East Cobb, have been most vocal in opposing classroom cuts, with the latter recommending using district reserve funding to preserve instructional quality.

Sweeney has cautioned against using reserve funding below $71 million, the district's monthly operating total, calling it "fiscally irresponsible" at last week's budget meeting.

The Cobb school board will hold a public hearing on the budget on May 14 and is scheduled to formally adopt a budget on May 16.