Houston School District Slashing Hours, Jobs

A Houston school district is cutting the wages of more than 425 cafeteria workers and eliminating 57 other positions in an effort to help reduce its budget deficit.

Cafeteria workers for the Houston Independent School District will have their hours trimmed by between 30 minutes and three hours a day, according to the Houston Chronicle. Employees that are cut by three hours a day would lose about $150 a week. The changes are expected to take place this week.

 HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, who took the position in September, told the newspaper the cuts could have been avoided through “better management.” He added he only learned of the crisis two weeks ago when notified by HISD Chief Financial Officer Melinda Garrett. Last week, the district’s chief business officer, Richard Lindsay, whose responsibilities included food management, resigned.

HISD is attempting to close a $10-million budget gap.