A 4.5 percent budget cut for K-12 education is going to hurt the students of Douglas County, according to the Douglas County School District Board of Trustees, and that's why they passed a resolution opposing the cuts at a special meeting Tuesday night.
"The Douglas County School District Board of Trustees opposes any reduction of resources that would have a negative impact on a school climate which encourages and fosters achievement, academics, and the active participation of both students and their families," board members stated in their resolution. "The Douglas County School District cannot refuse to educate children or ignore their educational needs."
Before unanimously passing the resolution, board members spent two hours mulling over the current state of the district's budget and discussing where cuts would fall and with what impacts.
"Here are your options," Business Service Director Holly Luna told the board. "Obvious places to look at first are certificated staff or directed programs."
She said that meant reading specialists, elementary counselors, psychologists, speech therapists, alternative education and summer school.
Luna said board members could also look at support staff.
"Custodians, food service, secretarial, health, library, playground aides and special education aides," said Luna.
The board will meet again 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday in the pavilion at Genoa Lakes Golf Course to further discuss the budget reductions and the district's priorities for the new year.
