The Crisis in Funding Public Education Intensifies

Source:   WEAC

Link to April 21 New York Times article, "Districts Warn of Deeper Teacher Cuts".

Excerpt:     School districts around the country, forced to resort to drastic money-saving measures, are warning hundreds of thousands of teachers that their jobs may be eliminated in June.

The districts have no choice, they say, because their usual sources of revenue — state money and local property taxes — have been hit hard by the recession. In addition, federal stimulus money earmarked for education has been mostly used up this year.

As a result, the 2010-11 school term is shaping up as one of the most austere in the last half century. In addition to teacher layoffs, districts are planning to close schools, cut programs, enlarge classes and shorten the school day, week or year to save money.

Mecklenburg County Commissioners Seek Ways to Ease Library Cuts

Link to news release

Link to April 21 Charlotte Observer article.

Excerpt:   Some Mecklenburg County commissioners said Tuesday they'd be willing to look at ways to cut less money from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system next year, though it wasn't clear how they'd make that happen.

"We know we have a stellar library system, and we're committed to maintaining that system," said commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts.

But, she added later, "It's going to look different."

Tuesday marked the second time in a month the library budget was on the commissioners' agenda as county leaders try to learn more about how the system spends its money and how it could be affected by budget cuts.

Related articles:
Mecklenburg County needs to reduce $85-90 million deficit.  (4/16/2010)
County manager takes library board to task.  (4/10/2010)
Libraries now open fewer hours.  (4/6/2010)
"Save Our Libraries Sunday".  (3/29/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg users owe average of 55 cents in fines.  (3/27/2010)
Library announces new hours for branches.  (3/26/2010)
Library Board applies a Band-Aid to its bleeding system.  (3/25/2010)
Follow-up on Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board vote.  (3/25/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board votes to keep all branches open.  (3/24/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board presented with 2 budget-cutting alternatives.  (3/24/2010)
More and bigger cuts looming on horizon. (3/23/2010)
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System Rethinks Closings. (3/22/2010)
A New Day is Dawning in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. (3/21/2010)

Charlotte Mecklenburg libraries haven't seen such large-scale reductions since the Great Depression. (3/17/2010)

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

Even ash clouds, apparently.

Link to full article at reuters.com