How would you cut the Pinellas budget?

FEBRUARY 04, 2009

Pinellas superintendent Julie Janssen is asking the district’s employees for ideas on how they would help cut $63 million to $68 million from next year’s budget. In an online survey this week, the superintendent also invites employees to weigh in on ideas already being considered, including:

Layoffs
Furloughs
Pay cuts
Reduction or elimination of some extracurriculars.
Lower pay for employees who return after retiring.
Reduced health insurance.
Cutbacks on textbooks.

Janssen took the idea from Hillsborough superintendent MaryEllen Elia, who recently surveyed her employees. Janssen approached Pinellas employees in a letter Tuesday. In the same spirit, the Gradebook hereby solicits ideas from school system employees and other members of the public. Weigh in below and let the discussion begin.

NOTE: Visit our special Web site on the budget cutting process so far. It includes helpful links such as presentations and budget documents.

Posted by Shannon Colavecchio at 4:12:01 pm on February 04, 2009 in

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About the blog

Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

Meet the team

THE TEAM

Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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