Arlington ISD Asks For Help With Budget Cuts

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - It was standing room only at Thursday night's Arlington Independent School District board meeting. Board President Gloria Pena said that she had already received a long list of suggestions on how to save money across the district, but they were open to hearing more suggestions from community members who were in the audience.

A total of 56 people signed up to speak. Each one was given two minutes to present their suggestions. The meeting lasted about two hours, with people crowded into overflow rooms and huddled in front of outdoor screens to see what everyone had to say.

Teachers, employees and parents voiced their concerns over the impact of $48 million in budget cuts. The school district had already released $15 million in proposed cuts, which includes reducing the department budgets by five percent, eliminating convocation, delaying International Baccalaureate implementation to Martin High School and Seguin High School, and various other administrative cuts.

The proposed options of closing Kooken Education Center and eliminating all teachers with probationary contracts drew particular ire Thursday night. "I love my 3- and 4-year-old (pre-kindergarten) kids," said one Kooken teacher. "I would not want to go anywhere else. Even if I lose my job, it would kill me to see Kooken close. We are ruining our kids."

Attendance officers could also potentially be cut. "I take ownership of the kids I am responsible for," said a tearful Carla Mullen. She personally interacts with the kids in the truancy database, and said that some of them credit her with helping them get their education – because of her persistence.

The Arlington ISD is continuing to take suggestions from parents and teachers, as they look to finalize cuts. Suggestions can be made via e-mail, through the district's website.