Colorado.

Denver Public Schools' board of directors approved a $315 million 1995 budget that gives teachers a 2.5% raise, but slashes 48 full-time positions and up to 200 part-time slots. The budget also cuts 118 support positions and custodial jobs.

After a recent Anderson Consulting audit concluded that Denver schools were steeped in bureaucracy and are inefficiently run, administrators have been battling criticism from the public and from its own board. Administrative cuts were made the last several years, but there were none in the budget passed last week.

Outgoing superintendent Evie Dennis, who is retiring after four years in office, reacted to criticism by board members that the budget process was incorrectly planned and carried out.

"I hope and pray you get the perfect superintendent in Irv [Moskowitz, incoming superintendent] and get the perfect budget. I refuse to take the blame for not being smart enough," Dennis was quoted as saying in the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post.

Despite the cuts, next year's budget is still $6.7 million larger than this year's. Costs associated with meeting the reserve requirement of Amendment I have increased, as have costs for special education, and utilities.

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