Tuesday, January 19th 2010, 9:38 pm
By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Putnam City School Board made the district the first in the metro to put furloughs into place. They passed voluntary furloughs for support staff at their Tuesday evening meeting.
Read details of the furlough agreement.
The Putnam City School District is facing a more than $4 million shortfall from state funding this fiscal year, and school officials think next year will be even worse. That's why school officials said they hope the furloughs will help pad the district's budget.
Faye Dawson is the financial secretary at Tulakes Elementary School.
"Support staff is made up of secretaries like me, bus drivers, custodians and so many others who help make schools run. It will be difficult if we aren't here," Dawson said.
But Dawson said she understands the difficult budget situation for the district and appreciates the voluntary furlough option instead of a mandatory one.
"We all care so deeply for the kids. That's who we want to protect. If that means we have to sacrifice and cut back then so be it," Dawson said.
The furloughs will begin as soon as possible.
District leaders also cleared the way for an early retirement option and for administrators to take mandatory furloughs. The furloughs do not apply to teachers.
A hearing must be held before administrators can take furloughs. That hearing is set for March.
January 19th, 2010
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