School board to slash millions from next year's budget | Schools

The Kent School District Board of Directors will meet tonight to finalize a plan that would save the district millions of dollars by slashing more than 100 jobs, enacting furlough days and increasing class sizes.

The board tentatively approved a 2011-12 budget earlier this month after weeks of contentious talks with local parents and teachers. The most heated discussions came after it was announced that the board was considering cutting physical education and music from the district’s elementary schools. That plan was eventually abandoned, but the board did agree to get rid of 120 jobs, cut teacher stipends do away with funding for specialized district office jobs, among other cuts.

In a statement, Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas said there will likely be even more cuts in the 2012-13 school year.

Originally scheduled to take place at the district’s administrative center, tonight’s board meeting was moved to the east wing auditorium at Kent-Meridian High School to accommodate more parents and teachers.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.