DEKALB COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Deep budget cuts have forced the DeKalb County School District to lay off one group of key employees - the district's translators.
With the start of school just a week away, there is concern about how schools will replace the important positions.
DeKalb County School Board Chairman Dr. Eugene Walker said he understands the concern but said cutting the 20 positions was necessary.
Walker said critical cuts like that of the translators are crucial to close the schools system's $80 million budget deficit.
"We all have got to do more with less," Walker said. "Everybody in the school system from A to Z. And that includes translators."
Having translators on hand is a federal mandate. School officials told CBS Atlanta News that the vacancies would be filled with contract employees.
"I thank that parents should be assured that if they have any communication issues at all that we are going to be able to make sure those problems go away," said Jeff Dickerson, DeKalb County Schools spokesperson.
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