July 21, 2007 - A school district that recently learned from the district’s new treasurer that the district would be $4.75 million in debt by June 30 has laid off 243 teachers and 22 preschool teacher aides. The Chronicle-Telegram also lists the names of all of the teachers who were laid off.
Not reported in the story above, but found in the Morning Journal, is that the district has also laid off 101 administrators and support staff, putting the total number of people being laid off at 366.
The Chronicle-Telegram gives what appears to be the reason for the massive shortfall in revenue.
For the 2006-07 school year, the district offered all-day preschool to more than 400 students, which cost more than $3.3 million.TT - How did a pre-school program that enrolled 400 children cost $3.3 million?
But the district received only $94,000 in tuition — covering the remaining $3.2 million internally — because tuition was based on family income, the release said.
