District administrators are counting on employees retiring and moving to avoid layoffs, but even so, said some layoffs are likely.

Albuquerque Public Schools is facing a $9.5 million budget shortfall next school year, and has come up with a plan to cut positions in order to make up some of that money."It's getting harder and harder, with these horribly thin budgets, to actually do what's best for kids,” said Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation.According to district administrators, part of the reason for the shortfall is declining enrollment and less state funding.APS wants to make up some of that money by eliminating 195 positions, including 82 teaching positions. The plan is expected to save $3 million.However, teachers and parents do not believe the cuts are worth it.“Students really are going to feel the impact. They need to have more teachers staffed if possible,” said Priscilla Casaus, a parent with a child attending an APS school.Bernstein is concerned how fewer teachers would impact kids in the classroom.“We're going to make sure in APS, that every classroom is filled to the brim based on our class size law rather than any wiggle room, so that's harder on teachers and kids,” said Bernstein.District administrators are counting on employees retiring and moving to avoid layoffs, but even so, said some layoffs are likely.The budget will go before the full APS Board Thursday, before it goes to the Public Education Department for final approval in June.

Albuquerque Public Schools is facing a $9.5 million budget shortfall next school year, and has come up with a plan to cut positions in order to make up some of that money.

"It's getting harder and harder, with these horribly thin budgets, to actually do what's best for kids,” said Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation.


According to district administrators, part of the reason for the shortfall is declining enrollment and less state funding.

APS wants to make up some of that money by eliminating 195 positions, including 82 teaching positions. The plan is expected to save $3 million.

However, teachers and parents do not believe the cuts are worth it.

“Students really are going to feel the impact. They need to have more teachers staffed if possible,” said Priscilla Casaus, a parent with a child attending an APS school.

Bernstein is concerned how fewer teachers would impact kids in the classroom.

“We're going to make sure in APS, that every classroom is filled to the brim based on our class size law rather than any wiggle room, so that's harder on teachers and kids,” said Bernstein.

District administrators are counting on employees retiring and moving to avoid layoffs, but even so, said some layoffs are likely.

The budget will go before the full APS Board Thursday, before it goes to the Public Education Department for final approval in June.