Salem schools need to cut costs by $1M

SALEM — City school officials will meet next month to begin making nearly $1 million in cuts. The board of education met today to look at the district’s finances.

“We have to make cuts,” said board president Elizabeth Thatcher, who added, “It has to be done.”

Voters in May 2006 approved a 4.3-mill levy that would bring in $1.3 million for five years. The district thought its budget woes were over. The district made some cuts, such as closing older schools, but reinstated some planned cuts that were planned if the levy failed.

Now the district finds itself about $880,000 in estimated debt for the 2007-08 school year. The district has passed a $7 million temporary appropriations measure for part of the next school year. The district spent $17.5 million for the 2006-07 school year.

For the complete story, see Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.