By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – Some Omaha Public Schools employees could begin receiving layoff notices next month.
An OPS committee heard Monday morning that up to 154 staff positions could be cut for the 2011-12 school year. OPS faces a budget deficit of more than $20 million dollars.
Assistant Superintendent of General Administration Dennis Pool says the staff positions include 50 teachers, but none will be laid off. Instead, those positions will be cut through attrition.
45 percent of the projected cuts will come from the Central Office. 35 percent are the teacher positions. The district also plans to cut 35 paraprofessional positions and 21 classroom support jobs.
Those figures are different than ones released by OPS in February. Pool says public input from four budget forums changed the projected budget cuts.
Cutting 154 positions is projected to save OPS more than seven million dollars.