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Cobb Co. considers options to cut $87M from school budget

Cobb County school leaders are working to trim more than $80 million from the budget, but some of the proposed cuts do not sit well with parents.

School board members met on Monday and came up with a list of options, including five mandatory furlough days, not replacing 226 teachers or administrators lost through attrition or retirement, going to a four-day school week and putting 34 students per teacher in fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms. Athletics and yard service cuts are also possibilities.

School board chairman Randy Scamihorn said if you do not work in a classroom, you are vulnerable to cuts.

"At some point you've got to look elsewhere, besides teachers. That's what we're trying to do. We are there," Scamihorn said.

Parent of three Kristen Trice thinks there has to be another way.

"I think they have to be creative in the budgeting," Trice said.

The board has decided to keep music and arts programs, but most other programs are still under consideration for cuts to close the $87 million budget gap.

"I think there are probably parents out there willing to donate cutting grass to keep teachers and people we need," Trice said.

The district has until June 30 to come up with a balanced budget.