“The sad part is that Kentucky has made
a lot of progress in education since 1990
and this is definitely a step backward.”
- Jon Draud
This from the Enquirer:
FRANKFORT – All 174 of the state’s public school districts have until Wednesday to submit a plan to the Kentucky Department of Education on how they can immediately cut 4 percent from their budgets.
As of Monday afternoon, many districts in Northern Kentucky had no idea where they would be able to make reductions.
Education Commissioner Jon Draud e-mailed the directive to all superintendents last week after meeting with John Hicks, the acting state budget director. Draud said Hicks asked him to submit a plan that would reduce the state budget for grades P-12 by $132 million.
“The information I am requesting is vitally important to illustrate the devastating effect this cut would have,” Draud said in his e-mail to superintendents.Draud will compile the information from each district into one report that will be turned in to Hicks on Friday.
“It will be interesting to see what kind of proposals the districts come up with,” Draud said Monday. “I really don’t know how they’re going to do it.”
Draud said all state agencies have been asked to develop 4 percent reduction plans with the state facing a budget deficit of nearly $500 million.The plan he will give Hicks on Friday, which will ultimately go to Gov. Steve Beshear, could be used by the governor to make a case for new revenue sources, such as increasing the cigarette tax – or cuts could be made.
“I’m not blaming anybody for this situation. These are just very difficult economic times,” Draud said...
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