Which is: by laying off 50 central staffers come September 1. That's according to a memo the Dallas Independent School District just posted to its Web site. The district's making the move to cover the $4 million budget shortfall, of course; there's still the matter of the missing audit; and on May 29, the district instituted a hiring freeze. Alas, notes the memo: The cuts were "made necessary because of increases in utility and fuel costs, as well as a decrease in local and state revenue." The memo also says this is the second year cuts have been made, but, says superintendent Michael Hinojosa, “In challenging budget times, it becomes necessary to look at ways to reduce expenditures and improve efficiencies. This is simply a tightening of the belt.” --Robert Wilonsky

• Education