School Board Set to Make Up Deficit from Reserves

The budget deficit for Metro Schools has ballooned to $14 million on the year. School board budget chair Steve Glover says the system is finished pinching pennies and ready to pull from its $52-million reserve account.

So far this year, the district’s administration has saved $7 million, mostly from a hiring freeze that’s left nearly 80 positions vacant. More than a million in savings came from a drop in the price of diesel fuel. The rest came from across the board reductions in all school departments – impacting everything from school supplies to travel budgets. Glover says the district could avoid layoffs by leaning on reserves.

“Maybe we might be able to find another million this year where we don’t have to cut programs or disrupt the classroom this year. I think the combined wisdom is let’s try to avoid doing that.”

The full board votes on how to proceed next month. Glover says the board should approve the withdrawal and focus its cost-cutting efforts on next year.