Pinellas schools cut $50 million, save some jobs

LARGO, Fla. - The Pinellas County School Board cut approximately $50 million from the operating budget during Thursday night's meeting.

The board planned on slashing between $55-60 million, but voted to save jobs in three areas:

• The proposed cuts had involved eliminating half of the library media specialist jobs in elementary schools. The remaining media specialists would have to cover two schools. The board decided to keep one media specialist at every school.
• The proposed cuts would have eliminated one guidance counselor from every middle school, which currently employ three guidance counselors. The school board decided not to eliminate those positions.
• The proposed cuts would have eliminated almost 50 teaching assistant positions from the STARS program, which focuses on at-risk students. The school board decided not to eliminate those positions.

Preserving those jobs, however, means that approximately $4.7 million will not be cut from the budget. The school board directed the superintendent to look for savings in other areas to compensate.

If those savings can not be found, the additional $4.7 million will be covered through staff furloughs. The proposed cuts already include more than $7 million in furloughs.

The school district has already had to cut $118 million over the last five years.