Schools brace for cuts in state aid

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Earlier this week, Governor Carcieri unveiled a massive budget plan to reduce spending, and erase a 357-million- dollar deficit.

The plan included cutting aid to cities and towns, and eliminating the need for bus monitors on school buses. Now local education leaders are bracing for the changes.

Gov. Carcieri wants to cut $60 million dollars in state aid to local schools.

Rhode Island Education Commissioner Peter McWalters says, "We have not taken money back from the locals since 1990. So you have districts out there right now that are going to have to manage whatever that cut is in a half a year, which makes it like twice as big a cut."

Gov. Carcieri also wants to rollback pension benefits for teachers who retire after April 1st.

To help ease the pain, the state no longer will force local school districts to hire bus monitors.