Educaton Funding Cuts:

* In Austin, the district has made $150,000 in cuts for the 2003-2004 school year, including eliminating a full-time librarian and music teachers.

* In Bemidji, the district made $1.8 million in cuts for 2003-2004, following $4.1 million in cuts for 2002-2003, with layoffs of 33 teachers, closing of two elementary schools, elimination of the French program and middle-school class-sizes of up to 41 students.

* In Duluth, a two high schools and several elementary schools are being closed and the district is eliminating 95 teaching jobs as it grapples with a projected 2004-05 budget shortfall of $6.2 million.

* In Mankato, the district cut $2.8 million and succeeded in winning voter approval for a property tax levy - but a loss of $296,000 of state aid threatens to force further cuts in 2004-05.

* In Minneapolis, a $28 million deficit has forced the largest teacher lay-off in recent history - 560 teachers, nearly one in 10 - the closing of an elementary school and reduction of transportation.

* In Moorhead, the district made $2 million in cuts over the past 4 years and is preparing to cope with a $636,000 aid loss for next year.

* In Park Rapids, the district made $700,000 in cuts for 2003-2004, following $2.4 million in cuts in the previous three years. Teacher layoffs pushed high school class sizes to up to 40 students. The district is currently in statutory operating debt and is seeking voter approval for a levy to avoid further cuts of $600,000 a year for the next FIVE years.

* In Rochester, the school district will begin working on ways to cope with a predicted $1.6 million budget shortfall for this school year and a $5.7 million deficit in 2005. Rochester will lose $1 million in state aid.

* In St. Cloud, the district has made $10 million in cuts since 2002, laying off 91 teachers and closing three elementary schools.

* In St. Paul, officials are grappling with an $8.5 million state-aid loss, coming after they cut $35 million over the past three years. Some 400 teaching positions have been eliminated.

* In South St. Paul, school officials doubled the participation fees for all extra curricular activities. 17 teaching positions have been eliminated.

* In Willmar, school officials cut $1.8 million in 2002-03, but pledged no cuts this year following voter approval of a levy. However, a $619,000 state aid loss threatens to destabilize funding in the future.

* In Winona, cuts totaling $3.7 million have been made over the past three years, and the district is struggling to find another $600,000 in cuts for this year. So, far, it has reduced its all-day/every-day kindergarten program to four days a week, slashed building maintenance and will be closing an elementary school next year.