Report: Fairfax Schools Facing $140 Million Shortfall

When the Fairfax County School Board meets Tuesday to discuss its fiscal 2015 budget, it will be looking at a serious deficit.

The system projects a $140 million shortfall, and new Superintendent Karen Garza will propose some major cutbacks, according to the Washington Post.

Among the suggested changes: eliminating more than 1,700 positions through attrition and potential layoffs; reintroducing a $100-per-sport athletics fee; and increasing class size by an average of one student.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors told the school board earlier this year to expect a 2 percent increase in revenue from the county. That will mean about $34 million more than last year to the $2.6 billion budget. 

But school board Chairman Ilryong Moon said those dollars fall short.

“I cannot imagine the Board of Supervisors turning their heads away from not only the challenges, but how devastating it would be if we were forced to accept those cuts,” Moon told the Post.

Read more about the budget in Fairfax County Public Schools' The Bottom Line.

Read the entire Washington Post story here.