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Hillsborough Schools May Trim Building Use In Summer

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TBO.com

Published: December 9, 2008

TAMPA - Hillsborough County School Board members today will consider plugging part of what may be a $55 million budget shortfall by shutting down all district buildings one day a week next summer.

District leaders say they can save as much as $1.5 million by keeping summer school and other facilities open just four days a week. The district knows it has to cut at least $26 million this fiscal year. But if Florida's governor and Legislature don't come up with more money for education and other services, Hillsborough schools may have to cut an additional $28.9 million.

State revenue estimates have grown worse than anticipated, and with such a grim economic outlook, Hillsborough school leaders will have to scour for coins in the cushions. They already have cut travel, supplies and vacant jobs.

Superintendent MaryEllen Elia has told the board she no longer plans to let teachers extend their time in the state's Deferred Retirement Option Program. Lawmakers allowed teachers to lengthen their time in the program by up to three years but left it up to superintendents to approve the extension.

Elia says she can save $4.5 million by denying those extensions.

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