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Despite Campaign Promise, Layoffs Could Be Coming To Columbus City Schools

WCBE files

In 2016, Columbus City Schools officials told voters the district would add over 300  jobs if they approved an operating levy. 

Now, the district is considering laying off more than 150 workers next school year as part of a plan to ease a projected 89 million dollar budget shortfall for the 2021 school year. Nearly all of the job cuts would be in academic services. Interim Superintendent John Stanford is recommending the layoffs and 8.1 million dollars in budget cuts elsewhere. He also says another 137 million dollars in cuts, which would include laying off an additional 270 workers, could be needed. District officials say the plan is in response to state funding cuts approved last summer. It's not clear if or when the board will act on the recommendations. 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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