Local Speakers Appeal to School Board

When William Davidson saw 11 known gang members approaching recently, the school's resource officer knew there would be  trouble.

But he told the DeKalb County Board of Education Wednesday night that he stopped the gang from its intentions -- to jump a student for a second time --- as did a counterpart at Redan High School in a separate incident involving a former student, he said.

That's why a proposal to cut 10 school resource officers at DeKalb County schools as the system faces a $73 million budget deficit is a bad idea, he told the board and a standing-room only crowd at the meeting.

"I don't think its the wisest idea to get rid of 10 SROs," he said. A former Stone Mountain High School student concurred.

Another speaker, a parent with a child at , is against cutting buses to theme schools, saying it would take a toll on everyone affected. After the school lost an assistant principal last year "I think that was enough," she said.

The "budget options" include reducing media specialists and eliminating meida clerks, layoffs at the district's central office, reducing interpreters, eliminating Pre-K and increasing class sizes.

A list of possible cuts is attached. Take a look and tell Patch:

Which proposed cuts would have the most significant impact on your child's school? Tell us in the comments below.