Santa Fe school district to save $1.6M in new budget

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Santa Fe school district is cutting dozen of jobs and consolidating some high school programs in its recently approved budget. The Santa Fe Public Schools board approved the new $185.2 million operating budget Tuesday in a 4-1 vote. The district approved the budget before New Mexico lawmakers have settled on a budget for state government. The district is cutting back on administration, school site budgets, special needs education and alternative high school programs to save about $1.6 million. Officials have not said which jobs will be eliminated. Chief Financial Officer Carl Gruenler says the school sites and special education reductions are in line with a decrease in enrollment. The school district needs to submit its budget to the state Public Education Department for approval by the end of the month.