Onondaga Schools consider cuts
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NEDROW, N.Y. -- The Onondaga Central School District meets as they continue to piece together their budget. The district conducted a facilities study this past year to help show them where changes can be made in staffing and programs.
One of the recommendations involves moving students out of Rockwell Elementary. But school leaders say that's an option they won't consider until next year. Instead, they've proposed cutting back program like arts, languages and technology and doubling class sizes.
Five job cuts are on the table right now, but school officials say it will be the fifth straight year of reductions.
Onondaga Central Schools Superintendant Joe Rotella said, "The bottom line is we're losing staff and we've lost staff since 2008. And we're down to that bare bone. And you heard the conversations tonight, they're very difficult conversations. Everywhere from scholastic to co-curricular, to classroom based instruction initiatives. Very difficult decisions for the board to make."
The superintendent says he is still hopeful for more aid from Albany. He is hoping that the governor’s $250 million grant funding program returns to its original form of foundation aid.