To battle deficit, School Board could approve new cuts Thursday

The Clark County School Board could approve up to $4.2 million in additional cuts at its meeting Thursday, the latest in a series of reductions as the district tries to balance a crippling deficit.

The new cuts would eliminate 76 jobs — 66 of which are currently filled — including 50 part-time custodians and 15 support staff positions in technology and information systems.

The reductions would also eliminate two days from the KIDS Program, an extended school-year program for autistic students. In all, the adjustment could save $2.1 to $4.2 million.

Another 16.5 positions could be cut from central office to save $1.2 million to $2.4 million. The School Board already approved such cuts, but the district has been working to identify where exactly they will be made.

Those cuts may nearly close the central office’s $7.7 million share of collective bargaining settlements, when combined with the $2.4 million to $4.8 million in cuts that the School Board approved earlier this month.

The deficit was last estimated at $50 million to $60 million, although officials say they will need to cut more than that because the district is already well into its current fiscal year.

The School Board meeting is at 5 p.m. Thursday the Edward Greer Education Center, 2832 E. Flamingo Road.

The newest proposed reductions also include:

— Four painting service positions

— One information systems and technology administrative position

— One Public Education Foundation administrative position

The continued reductions in central office include 16.5 administrative and support staff positions in:

— Academic Unit

— Accounting

— Grants Department

— Board of Trustees Office

— Chief financial officer’s office

— Partnership program

— Payroll

— Public Education Foundation

— Purchasing department

— Superintendent’s office

Contact Amelia Pak-Harvey at apak-harvey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4630. Follow @AmeliaPakHarvey on Twitter.