Schools face $3M deficit in 2011, chief says

SALEM — The Salem schools are looking at a deficit of more than $3 million by 2011, according to Superintendent Stephen Larcomb.

The district is looking at ending the 2007 fiscal year about $196,000 in the red.

Larcomb said Tuesday that after meetings with state officials, the district will have to recalculate its financial picture. He attributed the shortfall to the state legislation cutting funding.

The district has an expiring permanent improvement levy that brings in about $600,000 a year. The first time it can go back on the ballot is later this year, he said.

Larcomb is departing to be a superintendent in Marion County, where he is from.

He recommended Monday that the board eliminate a full-time art teacher’s position because not enough students were taking advanced art courses. The motion died, lacking a second.