Local school districts are planning on deep cuts next school year, due to the tough economy. Elgin School District U-46 has announced it will cut 348 positions.

Elgin is the second largest school district in the state after Chicago. Tony Sanders is spokesman for the district:

SANDERS: the biggest portion of our budget is spent on people. So, for school districts, the only way to reduce expenditures is to reduce the number of people. 

Elgin is slashing 48 special education teachers, half of its school nurses, and all of its full-time substitute teachers, among others. That’s in order to trim $17 million from its budget.

School districts across the area are being hit with increased salary and health care costs- and the prospect that revenue will flatline. In West Aurora school officials say they may have to eliminate preschool.