Story by: Jordyn Taylor
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The battle between the Monroe city school board and superintendent Kathleen Harris continues to heat up.
The suspended leader believes the board violated the law and she wants the courts to overthrow the board's decision.
But the school board's president Verbon Muhammad said he's confident no laws were broken and district has bigger fish to fry.
"The concern right now is that we open school in August and get a budget together," said Muhammad. "The situation with the superintendent is separate and we have to be careful that we don't let that distract us and cloud our real focus."
Muhammad said balancing the district's bulging budget is the board's top priority right now - as state funding is limited.
"We definitely need to take a look at cost cut measures," said Muhammad. "As you know Baton Rouge is tightening up and we have to tighten up as well."
The board will vote on some severe budget cuts which include: a hiring freeze, suspended vacations.
"We're looking at sabbaticals," said Muhammad. "We're looking at personal with over time."
And textbook purchases for students is also on the chopping block.
"We spend close to a million dollars just in textbooks," said Muhammad. "So, if we can find areas and be innovative because now technology we can do a lot of this online and possibly find money by using innovative measures, other than just the actual text books. "
