Overview
- Mayor Cherelle Parker and Superintendent Tony Watlington said Wednesday they can keep all school-based staff if City Council passes a $1-per-ride fee on services like Uber and Lyft.
- The reversal would spare 340 classroom-based jobs that had been slated for cuts, including 148 teachers, 23 counselors, and 119 climate staff.
- If approved, the fee would start Jan. 1, 2027 and is projected to raise about $24 million in fiscal year 2027 and $48 million in fiscal year 2028 for the district.
- District leaders said they would still cut building substitute positions and reduce central-office staffing even if the rideshare fee takes effect.
- Schools have built next year’s budgets without this revenue, and some teachers have been told their jobs may be eliminated unless a funding guarantee materializes.