Smaller school districts take bigger hits as budgets shrink

01-21-2011

By Marc Benjamin/The Fresno Bee

All California school districts are struggling with declining revenues. But small districts -- especially those with shrinking enrollments -- may close schools, cut after-school activities and merge to survive. The state's funding woes -- which could get worse if voters in June don't agree to extend taxes -- are particularly challenging for smaller districts, which have fewer options for budget adjustments. In Sierra Unified School District in northeast Fresno County, for example, trustees may close two K-3 elementary schools. "These are very hard decisions," said Debra Pearson, executive director of the California Small School Districts Association in Sacramento. "This is the time you have to ... make sure it all goes back to enhance student learning -- and cut out everything else." (more…)

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Smaller school districts take bigger hits as budgets shrink

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