Parents in the Hazelwood School District are teaming up to stop what they call devastating budget cuts.
They have formed a new committee with hopes of finding alternative ways of saving the district money. The group said Tuesday they would like a one-on-one meeting with district leaders so they can go through the budget line by line.
In July, Hazelwood plans on implementing $6 million in cutbacks to band, orchestra and physical education programs at the elementary school level. More than 40 individuals could also be losing their jobs, and the district will no longer fund field trips.
Leaders contend the cuts are tough, but necessary in the face of a $15 million budget shortfall due to what they describe as declining property tax revenue.
Hundreds of concerned families came to Tuesday night’s board meeting, which had to be moved to a new location to accommodate the larger than usual crowd. Many say the cuts will hurt the educational process and rob students of valuable experiences and life skills.
