CLAY COUNTY, Fla.-- Action News has learned the Clay County school district is facing a $6.4 million shortfall in its budget.School leaders found out after the number of projected students in the district dropped by more than 800. "We believe it's the result of the economy," said Deputy Superintendent Denise Adams.
With that loss, comes the loss in state funding. Adams says they're now looking at where to make cuts. "We'll look at money to allocate to schools, staffing, keeping in mind the class size amendment," said Adams.
Everything is on the table. "It would make se sense that we have fewer students, so less staff," said Adams. "We'll have a balanced budget and a good school."
That's a big concern for the president of the teachers union. "It present a large problem. We have to find the funding somewhere," said teachers union President Steve Richards.
While this is still the beginning stages of the budget process, one parent just hopes it gets worked out, so the kids don't suffer. "The kids deserve an education and to keep cutting and lose teachers, classes will be bigger, they won't learn as much," said parent Angela Elliott.
A spokesman for the school district tells Action News the superintendent will be meeting with staff on Monday to talk about what all of this means for the district. The district will also lose about 4 million dollars from a tax increase voted on in 2009.
