Jenks Schools eliminating teaching and staff positions

The Jenks School Board has voted to slash millions of dollars from next year's budget and says it can't hold out any longer to protect jobs. <br><br>With no help from the state Legislature and

Tuesday, April 1st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Jenks School Board has voted to slash millions of dollars from next year's budget and says it can't hold out any longer to protect jobs.

With no help from the state Legislature and a looming deadline to renew teacher contracts, the board was forced to act. 48 teaching positions will be eliminated; most are temporary teachers who are hired each year. This will save the district over a $1.5-million. It's also reducing the support staff, cutting enough hours and jobs to equal about 25 positions.

And $300,000 will be slashed from the transportation budget. Jenks buses will make fewer stops, making it a longer walk home for some students. Younger kids won't be affected, but high school students will have about five more blocks to walk.

Jenks schools have been hit with almost $4-million in state budget cuts in the past two years. Dr Kirby Lehman, Jenks Superintendent, "it will mean larger class sizes, but simultaneously we are fighting in every way we can to see that no program currently offered to youngsters is eliminated."

The school board also voted to reduce the administrative staff by 11%.