Monday, Charlottesville City Schools begin a series of neighborhood outreach programs to explain the realities of the system's budget for next school year.
Clark Elementary School will host the first Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) budget update and input session Monday at 5:30 p.m. The school system's budget builders will present a history of funding and discuss potential cuts.
Right now, Charlottesville is facing a $1.4 million shortfall for the upcoming school year.
"Particularly when you're facing bad economic times, when you're making decisions about where to reduce, that becomes even more critical to hear from the community and make sure everyone is at least understanding of the need to make a reduction and why we're heading in that direction," said Ed Gillaspie, the budget and finance director for Charlottesville City Schools.
The PTO budget updates will continue throughout January. The school board is expected to approve a budget at its meeting February 28.
