By Karen Gutierrez
The Cincinnati Enquirer

School districts whack their budgets while Kentucky legislators insist they're protecting education from cuts. What's the average citizen to think?

At a meeting on Monday in Boone County, the public can hear the view of education organizations in the state. Their take: With Kentucky headed for a possible budget deficit of $700 million next year - compared to about $250 million this year - the outlook for schools is bleak.

In its last budget session, the General Assembly did add $40 million in direct funding to schools. But that money was merely shifted from other parts of the Kentucky Department of Education, says Robert Sexton, executive director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

Among the KDE programs cut this year were a reward fund for teachers at high-performing schools and a management assistance program to help struggling schools get better.

Even with the $40 million, districts have had to make cuts because of rising costs, Sexton says. In 2002, for instance, the legislature mandated a 2.7 percent teacher salary increase without providing money for it.

"I was in a district last night that had cut about 50 teachers," Sexton says. "The superintendent (in Pulaski County) said it was to make the budget balance."

The Covington school system also has had to trim positions. Superintendent Jack Moreland, who is leading a group of his colleagues in a statewide push for adequate school funding, will be one of the speakers on Monday.

The meeting is sponsored by the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership, a parent-training group. Also involved is Partners for Kentucky's Future, a coalition of 50 education advocacy organizations.

Besides Moreland, Fayette County School Board Chair Kathy Lousignont will speak on the ways concerned citizens can help.

"The main thing is just to communicate with legislators about the importance of education at all levels in Kentucky," Lousignont says.

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The meeting will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Boone County Library's Union branch. Call (859)363-8903 for information.

E-mail kgutierrez@enquirer.com