The school board and county commissioners reviewed the bleak state of the economy and their budgets during today's joint meeting.
The upshot of the two-hour discussion is that it doesn't look like the school board will complain much about not getting what they wanted this year. County Manager David Cooke has recommended giving the school system $313.5 million instead of the $316.8 million that was requested.
"We understand the seriousness of the economic situation," said school board member Beverley Clark.
Clark thinks they could absorb the $3.3 million by taking it out of the $9 million that was built into the budget based on projected state pay raises for school employees. It's unlikely the state will give any raises this year.
Supt. Del Burns agreed that it's probably doable to take the money from those line items. He said the one concern could be whether increases in benefits and insurance rise much more than expected.
School board members stressed to the county though that they want to make sure that they tell the public that it's the state that provides the majority of the school budget. This way people will know why hundreds of teachers could lose their jobs due to state cuts and not local ones.
Comments
Less Money - Effect on Teacher Staffing
Sun, 05/24/2009 - 22:29 — nbtool90Mr. Hui,
I would think that the terminating contracts are going to take the hit. Any update on what is going on with placements of displaced?
Also, the Gov mentioned early in the process that stimulus money was on the way. Well, its on the way and it will generate a new program, making 97 jobs while hundreds are axed?
Thanks
Wake has to use the
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 11:20 — KeungHui (author)Wake has to use the stimulus money for the areas mandated by the feds. It can't say let's use the $45 million over the next two years for whhatever it wants.
As for dispalced teachers, they were down to about 30 last week. The terminating contract people may be able to take advantage of the new temp contracts that will be offered for the 2009-10 school year. But there's really not much that will be known until the state budge is finalized.
Mr Hui
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:18 — choice4allPLEASE VERIFY. I heard, today, on WPTF that Del Burns said the stimulas money was being spent on Math teachers for low income students..math coachs and so on. It is MY understanding that THIS stimulas fund was ONLY set aside for low income and SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. There was no mention of ANY money being spent on Special needs. The feds are requiring the money to be used for Title I and special education. http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/stimulus-money-and-teacher-merit-pay Please verify. Thank you
Wake is getting $46 million
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:00 — KeungHui (author)Wake is getting $46 million over two years with about $16 million for Title I and $30 million for special ed. One of the concern raised today is that they're not as sure about how to spend the special ed money because they're uncertain whether the state will cut more out of that area. On the other hand, they're ready to go with Titie I spending, which is a federal program. Those math coaches would help train teachers in how to teach math in Title I schools. It's a bit more of a challenge now that Wake is using a new math textbook. The other Title I money would go toward expanding pre-K classrooms.
Mr Hui - What happens after two years?
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 19:15 — Voice_of_Reason_Do these programs disappear or do we have to foot the bill for the programs locally after that, increasing the budget?
After 2 years
Thu, 05/21/2009 - 08:42 — g88ky07it all goes away. Voters will never agree to foot those bills!
Del Burns stressed that the
Thu, 05/21/2009 - 07:32 — KeungHui (author)Del Burns stressed that the money is not recurring so Wake or anyone else who gets stimulus money will have to decide whether to fund it out of their own pockets when it runs out. That's one of the reasons why the special ed folks in Wake are using a good chunk of it on materials rather than personnel.
We don't need "math coaches"
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:54 — dryeraseuserWe don't need "math coaches" this is a waist of money, the money needs to be put in place for additional teachers that TEACH CHILDEREN, not a coach to tell a teacher how to teach. NOTHING is going to cause a change jsut because we are moving into a "new math textbook" I"m so sick , as a teacher, at HOW MUCH DRAMA is played out over a new textbook. We are back on the right track, now that TRAILBLAZERS is out the door!!!!!
Math Coaches
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 19:11 — Voice_of_Reason_OK, first I'd like to correct a teacher .....CHILDREN is the correct spelling (sorry I couldn't resist)... {Yes I know it was a typo}
As far as math coaches, I noticed the news media for the most part is silent on this issue being for the teachers, not the children. I found it amazing that teachers need a coach to teach them ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATH! Then, I read an article about another state (Mass.) having 75% of the teachers failing the state licencing exam in elementary school math. Wow, that speaks volumes on the state of the education system! Say this isn't true in NC. Anyway, what happens to these coaches after the stimulus money dries up? Are we getting a free gift from the federal government or is it a program we will be burdened with in the future by local tax money? I agree, I don't think we really need them (At least I hope).
Voice of Reason....I'll let
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 20:06 — dryeraseuserVoice of Reason....I'll let that slide....hehe :-)
I'm bad about not reading what I type, I just have to get it off my chest and send it.
My feeling, about the math coaches, is most of these positions are filled by teachers that are tired of the classroom and it is a way to put the stress onto the others left in the classroom. WE need more teachers, NOT coaches! If we need "coaches" at all...we need Parenting Coaches for the ones that do not work with their kids and do not support what is going on in the classroom. This is why teachers look as if "we don't know how to teach". We can ONLY DO but so much, HOME has to support the work supplied at school.
Heaven forbid they trim the
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 11:48 — Big_PictureHeaven forbid they trim the fat affectionately called MYR. Did that even come up Mr. Hui?
We're losing teachers, but at least we're FYR!
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:47 — g88ky07Let me quote, "due to budget cuts, a "change" in our enrollment #'s and changes in teacher allotment procedures, we had to reduce the # of teachers assigned to classrooms for the coming year."
"Rather than "forcing" additional track changes to even out class sizes, we are, electing instead to inform you about the current size of each track."
Ummmm, with our lack of funds maybe someone should remind us as to why they reassigned 150+ kids out of our school, aren't replacing them YET still insist on operating an FYR schedule and costing us our teachers????
Anyone??? Horace Tart, want to get this one???? Knock, knock, knock, anyone home Horace??? Of course there isn't!
Oh yeah, the judge said it was ok. I guess it's ok to let teachers go for the sake of FYR!
Year-round was not brought
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:01 — KeungHui (author)Year-round was not brought up today.
Of course it wasn't brought up!
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:46 — g88ky07Why would they do that? Letting teachers go, jacking class sizes, under educating and lying to the public is what they are all about! It is ALL they are about!
Would love to get your MYR
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 15:25 — DrActualFactualWould love to get your MYR money to fund a HS math teacher. I spent the morning with the counselor rescheduling classes as no 9th/10th graders will be allowed to double up on math (unless its Algebra1Plus and Honors Geometry.) We will never be able to compete globally especially if they cut HS math courses. The lack of commitment of our school system to higher level math and science courses is shameful. It is not like there is ample time to take the courses later in HS. Cut a course this year, and no guarantees for next year's budget to look any better.
Implement a progressive system of salary adjustments
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 11:38 — Dadof3OK -- Let's apply a Krugman-esque fix to this budget problem. Let's apply a progressive system of salary cuts -- the more you make, the higher the cut. This way -- the people who help our kids the most, the teachers, are the least affected. The +$100 group (the "Cardinal" club, if you will) will see the most impact. And, as our new President says, the more comfortable among us can afford to sacrifice more. Heck -- we can save mucho mullah just be trimming Del Burn's salary alone.
Hey -- it's the change we voted for, right?
where's that "like" button
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 11:42 — AngelaWwhere's that "like" button on this thing?!!??!
Wake schools to get $46M from stimulus
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 11:07 — AngelaWhttp://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5180828/
The programs would create 97 jobs, Burns said.