O.C. schools may slash 1,429 jobs

Orange County’s school districts plan to slash at least $129 million in spending and 1,429 jobs next year if the state can’t avoid $2.3 billion in new cuts.

But the 2011-12 cuts would have been significantly worse if not for $96 million local districts received under a federal education jobs bill passed in August. The stimulus funds may have saved, at least for one year, more than 1,000 school jobs in Orange County, officials estimate.

“School districts are in a dire situation right now,” said county schools Superintendent William Habermehl. “They got a reprieve with this jobs bill, but it’s only a Band-Aid. There is still a cloud hanging out there for everyone.”

From: Ocregister