Philadelphia Schools Put Kindergarten, Middle School Sports On Chopping Block
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Full-day kindergarten and interscholastic sports in middle schools are on the chopping block, as the school district closes its budget gap.
Full-day kindergarten would be cut back to half-days. There would be no sports competitions between middle schools, and thousands of district employees would lose their jobs under the Philadelphia school district's plan to close a $629 million budget gap.
"We anticipate a reduction in workforce of 3800 positions. that is a 16-percent reduction, including about 1200 teacher positions," District budget chief Michael Masch says it's the result of unprecedented state funding cuts.
And he says if money isn't restored before the district budget is adopted at the end of next month, the entire instrumental music and athletics programs could be eliminated.
Reported by Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio
