Board saves 7 jobs as it slashes budget

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By Lindsey Hilty, Staff Writer 10:17 PM Thursday, March 18, 2010

FAIRFIELD — Over the sobs of teachers and the protests of students wearing arm bands who lined up outside Fairfield High School, board members, not without tears of their own, told the crowd of 200 that the district must live within its means.

The Fairfield Board of Education Thursday, March 18, unanimously approved more than $3.5 million in cuts, including more than 70 staff positions and high school block scheduling, which alone is projected to save more than $800,000.

“Most of the student body, we understand the need for budget cuts,” junior Josh Goodman said. “But also, you’re only giving us three months basically before the end of the year.” He and other students expressed fears that their education experience would suffer from the change they said is rushed and not well thought-out.

Last week, a group of students staged a protest by walking out of the high school.

The board approved all the cuts recommended by the administration Thursday, with the exception of the first-grade transition program and seven teacher positions, which was saved by a 3-2 vote.

With these cuts, the projected deficit goes from $5.4 million in June 2012 to $2.7 million in 2013 without accounting for the costs of implementing all-day kindergarten, officials said.

“Living within our means is something we must do,” said board member Sharon Ko. “I know that when the time comes, the community will say to us ‘You’re a lean, mean, fighting Indian machine, and we respect you for that.’”

Member Balena Shorter cried as she gave her reasons for approving the cuts. “I think this is the hardest decision I’ve had to make, because someone will not have a job and that’s hard ... In order to get where we need to be in the future, we have to make really hard decisions now and be prepared to live with those consequences.”

Resident Donna Canaan said she supports the board and encouraged people to bring forward ideas for savings.

“The harsh reality is telling us that we must make tough decisions, and we must do so now,” she said. “We’re no different than any other business. ... At the end of the day, we cannot continue to spend money that we just don’t have ... I don’t want to hear Fairfield City Schools in the same sentence with Little Miami.”

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