Jerome School District Slashes Budget

The Jerome School board made some tough decisions this week to finalize the 2011-2012 budget.  With cuts in state funding the school district faces a $1.3-million dollar cut in funding from last year for a total of $17-million dollars.  The Times News reports today that the Jerome School District Board cut funding for supplies, materials and textbooks.  Also, teachers will be furloughed and 15 staff positions are being cut including eight certified teaching positions.  School Superintendent Dale Layne said there will be a 4 percent cut in the certified staff.  The board also cut the middle school golf program and removed the high school debate team and there will be no more night school.  The cuts were necessary in spite of a $700,000 dollar increase from the state to the district that was announced on Monday.