St. Louis schools facing cuts for 2008-09 year

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The leader of a special board supervising St. Louis schools says the district faces a "horrendous financial challenge."

Rick Sullivan told state education officials Thursday that the St. Louis school district faces a $30 million gap between its projected expenditures and its $320 million in projected revenues next school year.

But Sullivan insists the district is improving since the state stripped the district's accreditation and took control away from the elected board members one year ago.

Sullivan says the three-member appointed board hopes to hire a new superintendent by September and is seeking community suggestions while developing a long-range plan for the district.