APS HAS A POSSIBLE 9-AND-A-HALF-MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL GOING INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND IT COULD MEAN LOSING 82 TEACHING JOBS AND 73 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT POSITIONS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. MONICA ARMENTA WITH THE DISTRICT TELLS US THERE ARE VARIOUS REASONS FOR THE DEFICIT, INCLUDING DECLINING ENROLLMENT, HIGHER UTILITY COSTS AND COMPETITION FROM CHARTER SCHOOLS. ARMENTA SAYS TRAVEL AND COMP TIME HAVE ALSO BEEN ELIMINATED FOR NEXT YEAR. REORGANIZING THE DISTRICT IS ANOTHER MEASURE BEING TAKEN. AS FOR THE TEACHING AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT JOBS, SHE TELLS US THE DISTRICT HOPES TO ADDRESS MOST OF THOSE THROUGH ATTRITION. THE SCHOOL BOARD CONSIDERS THE BUDGET AT ITS MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
