By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – Omaha Public Schools officials hope most of the 224 staff cuts coming next year will be made through attrition, resignations and leaving vacant positions unfilled.
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Janice Garnett says right now that figure is preliminary. How many cuts are made through attrition or unfilled vacancies, and how many are layoffs, will ultimately be based on projected enrollment and budgets. Garnett says cuts will be across the board and proportional.
Garnett says more staff cuts and layoffs are possible in the 2011-2012 school year when OPS stands to lose $26 million in state aid. Between 80 and 85 percent of the district's budget pays for employees.