Bartlesville school board approves teacher cuts

It's a painful lesson in economics for Bartlesville Schools, as they look for ways to make up a million-dollar budget shortfall. <br><br>The school board approved a tentative budget Thursday afternoon.

Thursday, April 1st 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

It's a painful lesson in economics for Bartlesville Schools, as they look for ways to make up a million-dollar budget shortfall.

The school board approved a tentative budget Thursday afternoon. It would eliminate 7 elementary school teachers and four middle school teachers, as well as a teacher center coordinator position. Other cuts would mean fewer school bus drivers and fewer bus routes.

The crunched the numbers several times before voting, but in the end, it was simple math. Bartlesville school superintendent Dr Gary Quinn: "In the funding formula, we receive so much per child, every school in the state does, so the fewer students you have, obviously the less money you receive from the state.â€

Board members decided to table the controversial issues of pay raises for teachers, also called a step raise, until a later date.