Calling Tuesday's election results a mandate for community schools

FS,

I agree that the BOE should be focused on improving education - but how and with what resources? Its obvious that the BOE and most other political factions are focused on the heated topic of assignment policy. That's important, but not the only issue on the horizon.

As of the end of June, WCPSS may have to lay off 2,000 teachers and staff. This is based on a $120 M short fall from 2010-11 to 2011-12. This is 11% of the operating budget (largely teaching and learning). If that forecast materializes, it is likely that WCPSS will have to struggle to maintain the existing quality of education. A teacher on this blog has reported 30 students per class. That is contrary to previous standards and raising quality by giving each child individual attention. 

$86 M of the shortfall comes from the expiration of Federal grants. The outlook for continuation of such grants is very low. These grants offset the State's drop in funding for WCPSS of $81 M over the last two years.

An additional $34 M cut from the State is forecast. The state is running a $3 billion to $4 Billion deficit that must be closed in the coming session of the General Assembly. The Governor has ordered every department to prepare budget scenarios defing 5%, 10% and 15% budget reductions. I have opted for the least of these - but the cuts could go deeper. As the BOE and the BOC and the General Assembly are now governened by Republican majorities, shouldn't the BOE be leading the lobbying effort for added funding?

Some here have said its up to the County to close the gap. But the County's budget is very tight due to lack of growth in the property tax (both the rate and the base) and a large fall-off in sales tax revenues - largely related to the continuing high unemployment rate. The county provides funds for other important services.  Is there anyone here who is for cutting public safety, libraries, EMS, public health initiative for the mentally and developmently disabled, inititiatives to deal with a syphlis epidemic, child mental health, school nurses, initiatives that deal with homelessness, hunger, AIDs, protection of our water supply, etc. etc?

County management has tightened its belt over the last two years and can be expected to do so again in the coming year, but such belt tightening is likely to only offset cuts in State Funding for Human Services and unfunded mandates from the State.

So what are potential solutions to cutting 2,000 teachers and staff.? A property tax increase is highly unlikely. The BOC's majority campaigned against any increase. The prospects of the quarter cent tax increase earmarked for teachers  (= two and one half cent increase in the property tax rate = $27M) allowed by the GA, look dim in light of the failure of passing identical referendums elsewhere in the state last week.

• The BOE hasn't sold the extra acreage around H6, the abandoned Forest Ridge site, the HQ building and the other school properties involved in the so-called savings involved with the move to Crossroads. The estimated value is roughly $15 M assuming buyers can be found. In normal times these funds would have been returned to capital - but they could go into the classroom.
• The choices become more difficult from here. YRS save both operating and construction costs. The BOE jointly with BOC could stop building standadrd schools. Trailers and modular units could replace standard construction for all growth requirements. Standard construction cost roughly $25,000 per seat. As a SWAG, mobil and/or modular units on existing school sites could be under $4000 per seat. At 4,000 new seats per year, the savings savings could be over $80 M per year. Cash savings to the County for debt service could reach  $7 M per year and one-time equity savings could be $15 M. Again, cash savings could be spent in the classroom. 

These options require intensive joint discussions between the BOE and the BOc and their staffs. These are not occuring.

If anyone has further ideas I would like to hear them. I have stayed away from options within WCPSS. The outlook is bleak and not enough attention is being paid to this critical situation.