Broken Arrow Schools address Budget Shortfalls

The latest round of state budget cuts is stripping more area schools almost bare.<br><br>Broken Arrow school officials took their concerns over a 2 and a half million dollar shortfall in state money to

Tuesday, October 8th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The latest round of state budget cuts is stripping more area schools almost bare.

Broken Arrow school officials took their concerns over a 2 and a half million dollar shortfall in state money to the source - state lawmakers.

This latest round of cuts is going to hit Broken Arrow teachers particularly hard.

To save money, the district will not pay for extra duty like before and after school care. And they're also cutting pay for substitute teachers.

Broken Arrow Superintendent Dennis Shoemaker wants the state to lift some of the requirements that it doesn't pay for.

Dennis Shoemaker, Broken Arrow School Superintendent: "You can't ask for two dollars worth of services and then provide a dollar to pay for it."

Ron Peterson, (R) Broken Arrow: "When monies aren't coming in we need to realize that and maybe roll some of those back suspend of the implementation."

Shoemaker says any further shortfalls in state money could mean 12-month school employees will have to take days off without pay.