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DISD Shortfall Could Cost Jobs DALLAS, TX (KERA) - The head of Dallas' largest teachers union says Superintendent Hinojosa's job may be on the line. That's after he disclosed a $64 million budget shortfall this week. Teachers now worry their jobs are also at risk. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa blames the shortfall on 350 improperly budgeted teaching positions added last year. Now that the problem's been identified, he says the district is overstaffed and administrators face tough decisions, including staff cuts.

Michael Hinojosa: We'll try everything in our power to keep collaborative plan time, smaller class sizes and other Dallas Achieves initiatives. But everything's on the table.

The head of the district's largest teachers union is Aimee Bolender. She says her Alliance AFT members may not tolerate cuts by administrators.

Aimee Bolender: They're going to make it even more difficult for teachers to do their jobs and they had nothing to do with this mistake. There's no way to find $64 million in this budget at this time and not disrupt the school year.

Bolender says if a private company suddenly found itself deep in the red, the CEO might be fired. She believes Superintendent Hinojosa is worried about his job.

Bolender: Something of this magnitude is pretty incredible. To me, this is a career breaker.

DISD departments have been asked to cut current budgets by 10 percent. A revised budget for the current fiscal year is due next week. Bill Zeeble KERA news.

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