Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Aleesia Johnson announced personnel and transportation cuts that will add up to at least $17 million in savings. As part of those savings, some parents will be asked to pay more for pre-K programs.
The move comes just a month after the district unveiled a $7 million reduction from school-level budgets.
Johnson said the cuts are “difficult but necessary” to address deficits left by enrollment declines and changes in how the state provides money to school districts.
Combined, the budget cuts mean 87 staff members will lose their jobs. The district employs just over 3,700 people, according to information provided in a news release.
“This is the hardest part because these parts represent people — our teammates and our colleagues who have dedicated their work to our district and our students,” Johnson said in a video posted on Facebook.
Here is a look at the changes being made to shore up the district’s finances:
“These were not easy decisions, but they were made with a clear focus on spending less at the district level to minimize the impact on our schools,” Johnson said in the prepared statement. “As we collaborate with the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC) and advocate for a referendum this November, it is vital that we demonstrate our continued commitment to fiscal discipline. We are tightening our own belt to ensure we manage our financial reality with integrity.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Jobs, pre-K, transportation and athletics hit by latest IPS budget cuts
Reporting by Jen Guadarrama, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
