Staff has presented $49 million worth of budget cuts to choose from today.
The school board needs to cut $39 million to balance the budget. That includes $3 million that the school board would cut out for now because commissioners have withheld the money to make sure enrollment matches projections.
A lot is what is expected. It includes eliminating all the new programs minus the increases in salary supplment recommended by commissioners. It also includes cuts from March such as slashing employee dental benefits and freezing the teacher salary supplement to 07-08 dollars.
Some new things today include saving $3.2 million by hiring fewer new teachers, cutting $280,886 in instructional supplies for schools and raising an additional $141,840 by another $25 increase in student parking fees. Thh would come on top of the $25 per year increase already put in the budget by the school board.
The board is now beginning to discuss the changes it wants to make.
Comments
http://www.edexcellence.net/d
Tue, 06/24/2008 - 08:26 — bigwinniehttp://www.edexcellence.net/detail/news.cfm?news_id=732&id=17
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/education/18child.html?ex=1214625600&en=91684fe0e829c191&ei=5070&emc=eta1
" What happens if enrollment
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 20:50 — g88ky07" What happens if enrollment falls short or gas continues to increase and less kids drive to school? "
BOTH are guaranteed!!!
Poo on that, how about PARENTS be responsible for getting their kids to and from!!!???
How about a surcharge for every kid you put into the system?? My next door neighbors with SEVEN kids should pay more!!!
It's time to get radical and it's TIME someone else sees that!
but that's a big part of the problem
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 20:31 — ConcernedParentdadof3,
But that is a big part of the problem. Because of our dysfunctional political structure, a big part of commenting on the public education system requires commenting on our CCs. Two sets of politicians mucking around in our childrens' education. Unfortunately, in Wake county, WakeEd = WakePol many times.
I'm not that jaded
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 20:57 — Dadof3I happen to believe that we live under the best system of government, especially when compared with all the alternatives. I also believe we got who we voted for, for better and worse.
The CCs are vying for, and might just get, their hands deeper into the inner workings of the WCPSS, but right now they're just the wallet.
So much of the "Look at what dufuses are CCs are" are a distraction from the main event.
Procrustean
Tue, 06/24/2008 - 05:17 — Dadof3As some of you know, I like the word "procrustean" in association with our beloved BoE; here is my "Word of the Day" (anyone surprised?) from Merriam-Webster:
procrustean \pruh-KRUSS-tee-un\ adjective
1 : of, relating to, or typical of Procrustes
*2 : marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances
My emphasis
one fire at a time, and
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 21:03 — bigwinnieone fire at a time, and personally the fire that affects my kids comes first, so the BoE will be scrutinized.....then after if still needed, the CC's come election time will see whether they stood the test of time or not....
N&O
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 20:12 — tc_apexThe N&O needs to do a story on how the school system COULD cut money other than what is being proposed. I am betting that the operation of YR schools is a huge cost for the school system while it has not produced the results (a lot of schools are UNDER what they were at before the conversions). Like the policy or not, there is no denying it cost more money.
proof that transportation
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 20:14 — bigwinnieproof that transportation costs have doubled since MYR was proven by WCPSS themselves. It's all out there, it's a matter of piecing it together and getting it out to the public, whether or not the N&O will ever do a story on those costs, remains to be seen, usually the editorials are much in favor of WCPSS and its policies.
bigwinnie -- who are you?
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 18:53 — Voice_of_Reason_What was your old name? I wish we had a decoder ring. Dadof3=Kyle, etc.
sorry, I tried to
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 18:54 — bigwinniesorry, I tried to re-register, remember I asked about names, it's Angela
bigwinnie try this
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 21:06 — Voice_of_Reason_try: _Angela_
and a new e-mail address from google (i.e. gmail)
That might help, I had all kinds of problems myself.
I tried AGAIN and it told
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 21:29 — bigwinnieI tried AGAIN and it told me email account invalid, so I'm done, just remember bigwinnie=Angela, I can't create all these emails, I can barely keep up with this stuff!
:+) (thanks though for trying to help)
What happens if enrollment
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 18:03 — silent42long (not verified)What happens if enrollment falls short or gas continues to increase and less kids drive to school? Where will this budget revenue come from when their plan "A" of increased parking fees does not produce the dollars? I thought they were suppose to cut $$$. How about we start with Del and Chuck's salaries?
Bus transportaton is not a Constitutional right
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 18:10 — Voice_of_Reason_While I am not advocating this, it should be known : Free school bus service is not mandated by the federal government. And unless it is a separate law, it is not in the NC State Constituton either. Some states have a transportation surcharge for school children. The closest I found in NC State Law is a policy on free disabled transportation. The US Supreme Court in 1988 had a ruling on this: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE2DC103FF936A15755C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all If someone knows better, please post it here.
If they did charge, what would be the reaction to the people that live close to schools but because of the diversity mixing have to attend a school far away?
Some school districts (in
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 19:17 — fiestamomSome school districts (in other states) who have neighborhood schools use a distance policy. Ex: if you live w/in a 2 mile radius of a school, you have to provide your own transportation. -walking, parent drop-off- etc - For obvious reasons, that can save a district a lot of money.
I believe WCPSS has a
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 19:26 — shank56I believe WCPSS has a similar policy..no bus service if within 1.5 -2 miles-- possibly unless there are safety concerns.
not sure about that as we
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 19:31 — bigwinnienot sure about that as we live .91 (less than 1 mile) from our schools and there are at least two buses that come through, (15 total for the ES, most of which are half empty)
well it would surely have a
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 18:23 — bigwinniewell it would surely have a wider spread impact on the community, wouldn't it? and maybe Calla Wright's group and the Wake Ed Partners, etc. would then think twice about how wonderful the busing program really is....
Montgomery County MD is going to make children walk to school
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 16:39 — fiestamomBecause of the high cost of fuel, one of the wealthiest counties in America (Montgomery County, MD) is going to make more children walk to school next year. Yet our school board hasn't made a peep! Diversity bussing is just too important.
Here's the link from today's Washington Post....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/22/AR2008062202193.html
send this to the CC's and
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 17:09 — bigwinniesend this to the CC's and the BoE!!!!
If it wasn't so serious,this would be funny
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 16:37 — Voice_of_Reason_Let's see,the best they can propose is hire less teachers and raise parking fees. The first is another way for saying larger classroom sizes are in order. The second will just add to the problems of off campus parking by students and/or more busing. Let's see some real cuts ! OR maybe a bold statement by Dr Burn's and the BoE, (OK throw in Chuck Dulaney too) HAND IN YOUR RESIGNATIONS because you just can't do the job that is required of you. I'm sure that will make a point to the CC's.
Same ole same ole, as usual
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 16:32 — g88ky07My subject says it ALL!
And guess what boe, bond time isn't far off and when it arrives you'll be dealing with something else you ARE NOT GETTING,
OUR SUPPORT!!!
What about the CCs
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 15:50 — Anonymous (not verified)What about the CCs fund surplus? Can it not go to education?
The CC's hold the 3mil pending confirmation of enrollment projections, but aren't county staff involved in those same projections?
If BOE members lose their mileage allowance as suggested here, do the CCs lose theirs too?
What about some of the CCs wasteful spending? I keep hearing about their new digs.
Why did the CCs decide to keep a revenue neutral rate? The property tax is the only way to pay for infrastructure (since the CC's won't allow us to vote on sales tax or impact fees or transfer tax). So growth won't pay.
Do the math - even without diversity bussing and no magnets (the two are one), there will still be busing because we are a county of sprawl. Suppose busing drops by 50%. With current fuel costs, that won't close the gap.
How much could be saved if all sports support were dropped for the coming year. $0 funding. Sports is not on the NCLB tests, so why have it?
Burns gets paid too much. True.
I know the BOE is far from perfect, but so are the CCs.
The situation is not going to improve so long as one elected body controls the funds, and the other controls operation. So give the BOE taxing authority, enacted after a special election to refill all seats using a mix of at large and districted seats.
Until then, I hope the BOE pulls out of the proposed power sharing, and sues the CCs.
what the public needs to
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 20:25 — bigwinniewhat the public needs to realize is that the CC's are not the only ones to blame, its was the WCPSS who came up with what to cut from where.....in other words, it was Del & Friends who threw them under the bus, there were other places to cut from, but they chose, instructional supplies, AG and foreign language etc..
Again and again
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 20:18 — Dadof3The CC's should absolutely be held up to scrutiny. However this is WakeEd Blog, not WakeCC Blog. For many of us, the goal is to keep the CC's from giving the BoE/WCPSS more money until they reel in their hubristic nonsense. That's isn't carte blanche to the CCs.
I have a feeling I'll be typing this again in 2 days.
cryin' the blues
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 15:42 — bigwinnieas if this BoE is the only one with funding issues:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080623/ap_on_re_us/state_budget_blues
In Tennessee, the state wasn't able to pour an extra $100 million into school funding that was anticipated as part of an overhaul of how Tennessee pays for education.
For Murfreesboro City Schools, that means delaying a plan to hire more teachers to keep the pupil-teacher ratio low at the pre-K through sixth-grade district.
"It is what it is — facing the hard cruel facts that the economy is not doing as well," said district finance director Gary Anderson. "It just means we've got to evaluate everything."
They really need to...
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 15:31 — gunfam...understand the term "Plan B". Yes, its too late to redistrict students for the next school year (heck, it starts in 2 weeks for us "lucky" YRs), but they (BOE and CC) should have had ideas months ago!! Why on earth is the budget about finalized only 3 weeks before the school year starts?? Also, why NOT look at waste spending?? Are they really doing such a job as to not have any wasteful spending? Maybe...since I have to buy tissues and cleaning wipes...but maybe not.
And what is the plan for NEXT year?? what have they learned?
Crisis Mode Means Drastic Changes
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 16:33 — LBonehamI still believe that if they are truly in such a crisis mode that they're looking at making cuts that will HURT our children, they need to take a GOOD look at where the waste is occuring and make changes ASAP. I know that the HUGE majority of Leesville Elementary families and staff members would be REJOICING at the change to traditional, even at this late date. I'm sure there are many in other MYR school populations who would feel the same.
I know many families who have made vacation plans during track out times (something that those of us with older children can't do) BUT they have said they would GLADLY change vacation plans if they could have our school operating on the traditional calendar.
Desperate times call for drastic measures, but NOT the type of measures that will hurt the education of our children. In my opinion this is all a play to the media, and the result will be negative impact on the education of Wake County's children.
What about the "Slushy Fund?"
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 15:28 — WuptdoHow much of the $35 million dollar (plus) "slushy fund" is left? I believe that will take care of most the BoE(eR) wants. Notice the word "Wants" versus "needs." What are the "needs" for the next school year? What would be the "needs" for the next school year if "cult of diversity" crowd was fired and community schools were put back into play? What would be the "needs" if the MYR school were changed back? I still believe the money would be better spent in the classroom than at the gas pumps.
There is a BIG difference between "wants" and "needs." Looks like another set of words the BoE(eR) should to look up and comprehend.
Budget cuts
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 14:51 — shank56The reality is that the BOE is not going to abolish bussing and redistrict students NOW for the coming school year. So what should they cut that protects educational quality and the ability to attract and retain teachers?
I'd like to hear Ron's suggestions- not just his reactions to other proposals.
administrative salary's
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 15:28 — bigwinnieadministrative salary's such as the new $100,000 area supervisor (the former East Wake principal with the gun club controversy, remember?), take back Del's increase, take away gas reimbursements for the BoE, surely they can "sacrifice" as the schools, teachers and parents are?
see how much that equates to
What About Cutting Out Waste To Save Money?
Mon, 06/23/2008 - 14:29 — LBonehamThanks for the updates Keung!
I guess it was too much to expect them to look at getting rid of MYR and cutting back on the unnecessary busing as ways to slash MILLIONS of dollars out of the budget, huh?
Were either of these even mentioned?
No, that would make too much sense and would mean admitting that there were mistakes. This entire situation is so frustrating.