Some have called it a perfect storm, others are calling for area residents to stand up and voice their opinions to state legislators. Whatever the case, the Pasco County School District is facing the potential of a $60 million funding shortfall this year.

In April, the district played host to a series of public meetings designed to solicit resident input on how to handle those cuts. During those meetings, school board officials shed some light on the numbers the district is working with.

Here are a few of the numbers mentioned in the district's 2011 Community Budget Presentation:

• The people – As of October 2010, the school district served 66,994 students in pre-kindergarten through the 12^th grade. It had 9,811 employees, including 5,412 instructional personnel, 4,085 school related personnel and 314 administrators, including those at the district level.
• The schools – Pasco County has a total of 84 schools – 13 high, 15 middle, 46 elementary, four education centers, five charter schools and one virtual school.
• The ongoing financial condition – The district is facing its third year in a row of budget cuts. Right now, it receives $540 less per student in funding than it did at the start of 2007.
• What the district spends per student – Right now, the district spends about $6,832.26 per student. This figure includes $2,940 in salaries for teachers and assistants, $411.21 for transportation, $235.37 for classroom materials, $907.46 for employee benefits and $2,114.85 for indirect costs that include general administration, support personnel, instructional media, school board members and more.
• Total potential funding – Before money is taken out for school recognition funds, McKay Scholarships, charter school funding and other state-required expenditures, the district estimates a total potential funding from the state of $455,310,622 for this school year.
• Where the cuts are coming from – The district anticipates a loss of $47 million in federal stimulus funding and about $12 million on the state level. Other possible state cuts are also feasible.

To make its budget balance, the district says “everything is on the table” in regard to cuts. School board chairwoman Joanne Hurley, however, did say she favors cutting a little bit from everything rather than taking away any single program.

Here are the costs of different programs and what removing them might mean for making up that funding shortfall:

• All administrators, including district level – $25,767,499
• Middle school athletics – $396,416
• High school athletics – $1,324,749
• Music programs and teachers – $5,807,401
• Band supplements and uniforms – $143,083
• Art teachers and programs – $4,709,331
• Moving to a four-day school week – A total savings of $3,200,000
• Media specialists – $4,221,180
• Technology specialists – $3,436,559
• Guidance counselors – $7,529,813
• Literacy coaches – $3,264,953
• Student achievement coaches – $1,777,780
• School nurses – $1,734,156
• School psychologists - $2,200,380
• Classroom teachers needed for full class size compliance - $9,000,000
• Social workers - $1,596,979
• Drivers education - $430,000
• Behavior specialists - $2,969,641

The school board meets today, May 3, at 9:30 a.m. at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Hurley does not anticipate final decisions will be made on where the cuts will come from until some time in June.

For more information about district funding, visit pasco.k12.fl.us online.