Attorneys Question Baltimore Schools

Attorneys Question Baltimore Schools Chief Financial Officer: "BALTIMORE -- Attorneys attempting to force Baltimore's school system to pay off its $58 million deficit slower than city officials want aggressively questioned the system's chief financial officer on Thursday.

The American Civil Liberties Union is asking two judges to rule that the city's plan to reduce the deficit by July 2006 would hurt students and increase the burden for already stressed teachers and staff.

'The school system cannot prioritize deficit reductions over the academic needs of the children,' said Louis Bograd, an attorney working on behalf of the ACLU. 'The system just can't make these decisions in such a short time.'"