Community members thankful that Cleveland school cuts are averted

From The Cleveland Plain Dealer: The Greater Cleveland Congregations, a coalition of 40 religious congregations and groups, sent out a resounding thank you to Cleveland school officials and the teachers unionafter they agreed not to carry out $13 million in cuts. The cuts would have eliminated a number of programs including most spring sports, summer school, busing for high school students and pre-school.

SEPTEMBER 2011..from The Cleveland Plain Dealer: The Cleveland school board has canceled the planned layoff of more than 300 teachers. The decision means the district will have to find more than $13 million in budget cuts by the end of next month. Eric Gordon, the district's chief executive officer, recommended rescinding the layoffs. He told the board it could save $2 million by reducing the district's textbook budget, $2.5 million by eliminating preschool, $2.5 million by eliminating summer school, $1.3 million by reducing sports and $1.1 million by reducing safety and security forces. It also could save $1.5 million by going to state minimum transportation levels. Earlier....From The Cleveland Plain Dealer: Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon wants to save 300 teachers from layoffs, but the board will have to cut $11 million from the budget, possibly from busing, books and athletic and extracurricular programs. It may also mean a tax increase on the ballot for the schools in the near future. Gordon has recommended that the school board vote in two weeks to call off the Oct. 3 layoffs and keep teachers in the classroom.