The Peoria Public School Board approved a significant amount of money to send 160 staff members to Florida for training on a college-prep program. School Board President Debbie Wolfmeyer says she understands the money comes out of special Title I funds that can NOT be used to offset the district’s deficit:
“But it’s still very difficult when we’ve laid off 100 people that we’re going to spend $289,000 to send a bunch of people to Orlando I just, I’m struggling with it. “
District administration says the training is required to continue the programs. The news comes as District 150 grapples with a growing deficit this school year of more than $13 million. The Board is still in talks about spending on the ELITE discipline program and whether to increase class sizes, and other possible changes.