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Flint school board passes FY 2014 budget

Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio

Flint school board members last night approved a budget for next year.

The district’s superintendent says Flint schools may be close to reaching bottom with its new budget.

Flint schools have been struggling with a declining student enrollment and budget problems for years.

The budget approved last night includes closing four schools and laying off around 150 employees.

Interim Superintendent Larry Watkins says more cuts may be needed, if enrollment slides even further.

“We have no idea how many students we’re going to lose to the Schools of Choice program,” says Watkins, “But we are also going to compete for those students. We’re going to compete like the Flint schools have never competed for students before.”

The Flint Schools are also working to complete a deficit elimination plan. The district is trying to close a more than $15 million deficit by 2016.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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