State to cut millions from schools

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - After already cutting the state budget in areas including state agencies and higher education, Governor Mitch Daniels (R) said now it is time for schools to help slash spending.

"K-12 spending is half the entire state budget," Daniels said. "It will have to contribute something to keeping us in the black."

The Governor asked the State Board of Education to quickly recommend areas in which reductions could total at least $300 million. He wants schools to do that without cutting teachers.

"When thirty-nine cents of the school dollar, as I have so often pointed out, is spent outside of the classroom there's really no justification for teacher layoffs," Daniels said during a budget press conference on Tuesday.

Fort Wayne area school leaders claim such decisions do not come very easily. Krista Stockman with Fort Wayne Community Schools said teachers are the district's largest expense.

"We don't want to cut teachers either, but when you're talking about millions and millions of dollars there is no way that we can promise that teachers won't be affected," Stockman said.

While local schools say it is too early to know what budget reductions can be made, many are already working to figure it out.

Governor Daniels wants to hear from school leaders quickly. He gave the State School Board until Friday to bring budget recommendations to the table.