Richmond School Board Votes To Close School, Cut 60+ Positions - WRIC Richmond News and Weather -

Richmond School Board Votes To Close School, Cut 60+ Positions

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RICHMOND, VA—The Richmond City school board took action Wednesday, in an effort to bridge a multi-million dollar budget shortfall; over 60 positions will be eliminated, and one school will be closed.

Summer Hill Elementary School will be closed, the school board voted. More than 60 positions in the administrative sector of the school system will be eliminated.

The district faced an $11.6 million dollar budget gap after revenue shortfalls, higher health insurance rates and mandatory one percent salary increases.

Among the list of items that were previously on the chopping block: 65 teacher jobs throughout the city. Eliminating the positions would have saved approximately $3.1 million, but would have also increase classroom size.

Sources said previously that existing contracts with vendors and work to consolidate services with the city could have also be canceled.

Two more schools will be closed in continuing efforts to trim the budget, although board members say they haven't decided which ones will be shut down.

Stay with 8News for updates.

 

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