Families and businesses have to cut down on their spending in tough economic times. Why can schools do the same?
They do. Alachua County Public Schools has already implemented a number of cost-cutting strategies, such as those outlined above, and more are coming. However, there are limits to what school districts can cut. Many of the programs and services we provide are mandated by either the state or federal law, and such mandates are often unfunded or underfunded. For example, the state mandates that the district transport all students living more than two miles from their school, but only reimburses us for about 60% of the cost. Even in this tight budget year, the state legislature has passed a law requiring, among other things, new end-of-year tests in addition to the FCAT. However, that requirement comes with no additional funding. And, like families and businesses, the district is also faced with rising costs. For example, a gallon of diesel fuel cost the district $2.27 at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year. It’s now up past $4 a gallon. And Alachua County Public Schools needs more th
