Pittsburgh Schools Supt. Proposes Cuts To Capital Spending

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Linda Lane presented her budget to the school board on Wednesday night.

It includes a 75 percent cut to capital spending.

Dr. Lane believes the deep cuts are necessary, saying it makes no sense to borrow money and spend $60 million on capital projects.

Under the proposal, $18 million for renovations at Arlington Elementary would go away. Parents hope safety isn't compromised.

"I think that they should still take care of all the safety issues," Edwin Koch, a parent, said.

Officials say safety issues will still be resolved, as well as repairing basic facility needs like roofs, boilers and windows.

Sherry Hazuda, the school board president, says the district can't use the Gates Foundation money for renovations now that the proposed state budget makes cuts.

"That takes care of your extras for empowering effective teachers – it doesn't pay the bills," she said. "And we knew we were going to be impacted by the governor's budget, didn't realize how much, but had actually already started looking at things before he gave us the bad news."

The school board will vote on the plan next week.