Can Cutbacks Leave School Programs Viable?
By James Weber Following the recession of the early 1990s, American industry cut operations, keeping just enough staff to thrive at the bottom line. Likewise, most public schools, out of financial necessity, have had to reduce costs, while maintaining facilities and essential instructional programs and remaining accountable for student outcomes. School downsizing can mean making painful decisions about program elimination and staff layoffs. When the graceful options are exhausted, what can be done? Like pruning an orchard, the downsizing of schools can be used to some advantage–discovering and reducing programs of limited benefit, making instructional programs more focused and more defensible, gathering detailed information about district staff’s efforts, and tapping into staff ideas for cost-savings. How Can We Decide Which Programs To Cut? Preparation is the best approach. With an ongoing program of self-examination, a district may not have to experience the wholesale layoffs, unatt
