Balanced schools budget draws fire: Council will hold hearings on the $2.04 billion spending plan. Parents criticized the cuts that are likely to result.

Byline: Susan Snyder

Apr. 4--The Philadelphia School District will present a balanced $2.04 billion budget to City Council this morning, and part of that balancing act is likely to be seen and felt by students and teachers at many schools. Paul Vallas, schools chief executive, said the district would cut principals' "discretionary spending" budgets by 5 percent -- resulting in a net loss of about $8 million to the 270-plus schools.

Principals can spend discretionary money on overtime, extracurricular activities, graduation expenses, extra materials, and programs such as the high school newspaper. "Certainly, I don't like that we have to reduce the amount of discretionary spending to local schools, but we submit balanced budgets. That's what we do," Vallas said at a budget briefing yesterday afternoon. In February, the district announced that it would cut remaining…