School board to discuss cuts

Share this: Email | Facebook | X

With the special session of the Legislature scheduled to begin Monday, school officials will get a better idea of how much will be cut from their budget over the next two years.

On Tuesday, those new numbers will be presented to the Carson City School Board for review.

"Right now, we're preparing for the worst," said the school district's finance director Bob Anderson.

He said the worst-case scenario would be a 34 percent cut, which would mean about $11 million less for the Carson City School District.

Board members and district officials have presented some ideas as to how to cut expenses, ranging from reducing bus service to adjusting hours of operation at school sites and eliminating staff positions.

However, no decisions have yet been made.

School districts across the state are facing similar hardships, with some even considering reducing the school week to four days.

Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes said that has not been a consideration for city school officials.

The Douglas County School District is holding a special meeting to discuss budget cuts 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Carson Valley Middle School.

Douglas County schools are looking at cutting anywhere from $5.4 million to $7.8 million.

That district is considering cutting programs, such as gifted and talented classes, middle school sports and field trips. Staff there may also be cut.

The special session, scheduled to last two days, will address $340 million of the $1.5 million shortfall facing the state in the upcoming two-year budget cycle.

The state's total budget is $6.8 billion.

- Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.