Schools

Fairfax Schools Facing $140 Million Shortfall

School board work session expected to suggest big cuts for FY2015.

By Karen Goff

When the Fairfax County School Board meets Tuesday tin a work session to discuss its fiscal year 2015 budget, it will be looking at a serious deficit.

The system projects a $140 million shortfall, and new schools superintendent Karen Garza will propose some major cutbacks, The Washington Post reports.

Among the suggested changes: eliminating more than 1,700 staff positions through attrition and potential layoffs; reintroducing a $100-per-sport athletics fee; and increasing class size by an average of one student.

The County Board of Supervisors told the school board earlier this year to expect a 2 percent increase in the county’s transfer of funds. That will mean about $34 million more than last year to the $2.6 billion budget. 

School board chair Ilryong Moon said the increase falls short.

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“I cannot imagine the Board of Supervisors turning their heads away from not only the challenges, but how devastating it would be if we were forced to accept those cuts,” Moon told the Post.

Read more about the budget in FCPS' The Bottom Line.

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