By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – The state department of education is recommending that Birmingham close nearly a third of its 65 schools because of a shrinking student population and shrinking revenues.
Craig Pouncey is the assistant state superintendent of administrative and financial services. He outlined the school system's problems and the state's recommendations during a presentation to the Birmingham Board of Education yesterday evening, The Birmingham News reported on its Web site.
There are 28,393 students in Birmingham schools this year. That's 1,343 less than last year. The city's 65 schools have a capacity of 42,901.
Pouncey said the drop in enrollment means the school system will receive nearly 9 million dollars less next year in state and federal money. Pouncey said that, combined with other factors, means the school system must eliminate 25.4 million dollars from its budget.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)