Syracuse School District Budget Deficit

by: Kit Rodophele (NCC News)

November 17, 2010 1:28 p.m.

The Syracuse school district is predicting a 50 million dollar budget gap next year. The new Syracuse budget coalition, a group that includes Say Yes to Education and the Syracuse School District's Board of Education, are now looking at a long list of potential budget cuts and ways in which to bring in more revenue.

Some ideas include:

-Going after specific education grants
-Restructuring special education to reduce the number of students who get services
-Persuading the state to more equitably distribute aid to high-need districts
-Closing district schools
-Increasing class sizes

Closing the Gap:

Though there has been speculation of massive job cuts to close the gap, the President of the School Board, Dick Strong, says that the coalition has not yet decided on what cuts will need to be made, but closing the gap is the main focus and the coalition will make that happen however they can.

"In large, urban districts, we have budget gaps, and we find ways to figure it out. Will we figure this one out? Probably not to the success we have in the past, but the goal is to close the gap," said Strong.

Strong said that every year, people have to learn to cope with disappointing budget cuts and that, though parents and students may be upset by the cuts recommended by the coalition this year, sacrifices in all areas need to be made in order to close the gap.