Tulsa Public Schools takes hard look at budget cutting

Challenging economic times are calling for budget cutting measures inside Tulsa Public Schools. <br><br>Friday afternoon, an impromptu briefing was held at district headquarters, where creative strategies

Friday, June 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Challenging economic times are calling for budget cutting measures inside Tulsa Public Schools.

Friday afternoon, an impromptu briefing was held at district headquarters, where creative strategies were revealed on a Tulsa Public School plan to save money.

News on Six reporter Jenni Monet says state funds earlier this month forced Tulsa Public Schools to face a $6.5-million deficit. Now some creative cuts that could affect your child in the classroom and the teachers who help them along the way.

School Superintendent Dr. David Sawyer revealed a lengthy list of recommendations to reporters Friday afternoon. Among items up for consideration by the school board, an extended summer for students set for after this Labor Day holiday. Possibly eliminating Tulsaâ€™s year round school program, as well as some full-time positions in seven school libraries Administrators are also closely eyeing the district's bus schedules with some creative re-routing in mind.

Dr David Sawyer, "We not only have a challenge to balance our budget, that is our expenditures, but we have a challenge to create a responsible reserve once again."

The start of the fiscal budget year begins on July 1st. The hope from Superintendent Sawyer is to get some of these top priority items cleared by the school board as soon as Monday. Then, it's another long list of budget cut items up for consideration.