Deer Park Schools Facing $2.8 Million Budget Gap

Though budget season has just started in Deer Park, it will prove to be a challenging one, as the district's board of education and administration face the task of closing a $2.8 million budget gap for the 2013/14 school year.

Despite a mandated 5 percent reduction across all departments in the rollover budget, the draft budget shows a 1.76 percent increase from last year's spending plan, which totaled $101.2 million

Superintendent Eva Demyen said staffing cuts will be necessary to close the gap.

"We're looking to make minimal reductions across the board. We'll have to do that in order to meet the cap," she said.

Demyen estimated that cuts would reduce the district's staff by about 4 percent, though the exact number has not been finalized.

Marguerite Jimenez, Assistant Superintendent of Business, emphasized that the district does not plan to cut any programs.

The next budget work session is Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the District Administration Office.