Jefferson County School Board Approves $40M In Cuts

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Nearly every school district in Colorado is faced with big cuts this year because of declining tax revenues.

Today the future of the state's largest district is a little clearer.

The Jefferson County School Board approved $40 million in cuts on Thursday night. It means bigger classes, fewer teachers and fewer schools.

Officials said none of the choices was easy. More than 200 jobs will disappear. More than 100 of those are teaching jobs. That will mean bigger class sizes.

Martensen and Zerger Elementary School will also close after this year.

The board also approved to plans to soften the blow.

Bus fees will be lowered from $150 to $100 per student.

The district will also partially fund the popular outdoor lab education program. Watch a feature on that program by CBS4 reporter Jennifer Brice in the video clip below: