JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It's decision time for the Duval County school board. The district is facing a 91 million dollar budget deficit and Friday, the board is spending the day weighing their options.
The workshop started at 9:15 a.m.
It has been a tense morning inside the Duval County School Board auditorium. Tough decisions have to be made. And students worry their sport will soon be just a memory.
Because of that 91 million dollars shortfall, they are forced to eye art, music and athletics as possible eliminations. They're considering cutting 10 varsity sports.
Lacrosse, cross country, tennis, wrestling and golf all may go, along with possible furloughs for teachers and getting rid of more than 100 county school employees. The board members say they're stuck between a rock and a hard place and no decision will be made lightly, but the board chairman stresses: out of crisis comes opportunity.
The community is rallying behind saving sports. Various entities are stepping up monetarily to try saving the sports programs at risk. The board says the goal is to keep as many sports in place as possible, and thinks they will be able to get the money needed from the community.
The board will vote on the budget August 2 during a public hearing.
