| Parents, employees protest proposed Plainfield school cuts |
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| Thursday, 20 March 2008 | |
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By BRANDON LAUSCH PLAINFIELD — District employees and parents jammed Barlow Elementary School's auditorium Tuesday night to beg school board members to save positions and reconsider proposed cuts. Meanwhile, officials continued to grapple with a budget that forecasts a $6 million shortfall and includes the first tax increase in 16 years. Under the terms of the proposed 2008-09 budget — which was unveiled last month but will continue to change until a March 25 vote finalizes the spending plan — Plainfield's school district is facing millions of dollars in increased costs to pay for staff salaries and benefits, as well as tuition for city students educated outside of the local school system. Despite a 2 percent boost in state aid — the annual minimum under Gov. Jon Corzine's revised school funding formula — the increase was more than offset by the soaring costs, officials said, including the opening of a new elementary school this fall and mandates to fund area charter schools. READ MORE: http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/NEWS/803200349               |
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