The Department of Education is bailing out 26 schools that couldn't cope with the midyear budget cuts enacted in January, officials testified yesterday.
The schools, facing flagging student enrollment, citywide budget reductions, and a shortfall of reserve funds, will be allowed to roll their deficits over into future budgets to prevent staff firings or a loss of classroom programs.
"They're really in a bind," Deputy Schools Chancellor Kathleen Grimm said following a City Council hearing that focused on the fiscal 2009 budget.
Schools Chancellor Joel Klein testified that extra funding to schools that have gifted and talented programs - promised under last year's funding scheme - would not be allotted next year.
