Schools complain of money shortage

New system forces tough choices

Displaced employees will be offered other jobs, often as classroom teachers, but they might receive lower pay.

At Thomas Johnson Elementary in South Baltimore, retiring principal James R. Sasiadek says his school will lose $52,000 while costs increase as a result of adding a seventh-grade class. Sasiadek and the principal replacing him went to system headquarters this week to ask for help and lobby for more funding, but he said he understands why his budget is what it is.

"We have a $50 million shortfall," Sasiadek said. "Who's going to decide where it gets cut? Do you want [Alonso] to decide or do you want the schools to decide? I would rather the schools decide. It forces you to be creative."

Staff members at the small, high-performing school are resisting suggestions from the central office that they double the number of children in arts classes, which Sasiadek said already have more than 30 children apiece. To be able to keep their faculty in place, they're cutting back on materials.

"We've cut out any book that isn't necessary to buy," Sasiadek said. "We've cut down supplies to the bare minimum to make it. We've cut out all the computers. ... There was a little bit of furniture we needed to buy. We're not buying anything. We're buying the people that make our school work."

[e-mail]