WSMV Channel 4 reports this morning that the school board is to receive a report from the district administration today on how it will cut $3 million in education spending for the ongoing school year.
Such a request is an outrage, for a school district soon to be under state control for woefully failing to meet No Child Left Behind Act standards and city that has made it a $22-plus million priority to first fund pro sports and an arena that loses money despite having an NHL team.
So this is the supposed Athens of the South?
I also question the legality. WSMV reports that teacher numbers are not supposed to be in the layoff. But if they are, can that be legally done with the school district failing to meet federal mandates for the fair education of all children? You must have adequate teacher numbers to catch kids up.
That matter may be a question some intrepid reporter or parents might ask the Civil Rights division of the U.S. Department of Education or a very good civil rights attorney locally. More cuts are going to come, particularly when the General Assembly and governor reduce at least a $1 billion budget deficit.
The local share of state aid must be cut in 2009, which will undermine schools and raise property taxes. Teachers numbers in Metro and in school districts across the state will be negatively affected.
So someone or some organization should soon talk to an attorney and find the right judge to issue a temporary restraining order until authorities further up the ladder here and in Washington, D.C., can decide the matter in the best interests of the children -- not politicians.
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