January promises to be a hectic month and the beginning to what may be a very interesting year for EPISD librarians. Because the tax ratification bill did not pass this summer, our district's budget faced a deficit coming into this school year. Eighty-six positions were cut to balance the budget for the 2010-2011 school year but now the district is facing a reduction in state funding which will impact the 2011-2012 budget. The State Legislators will be meeting in a few weeks to determine the appropriations for public education. Once the appropriation bill is passed, EPISD will begin to gauge what measures it will need to take to balance the 2011-2012 district budget. A Budget Stakeholders Committee has been created by Dr. Garcia and they are looking at several models to include a 5% reduction in personnel in order to satisfy the anticipated $22 million dollar deficit. In the meantime, this librarian is concerned for her job and for the impact that cutting librarians and possibly closing the district's school libraries might have on the education of El Paso's school children.
No comments:
Post a Comment