Wake school leaders are bashing the state for forcing them and other school districts to make unpopular budget cuts such as raising class sizes and reducing teacher assistant positions.
No new positions were eliminated today as they were already anticipated in the budget. But today's board vote makes the cuts official.
At issue is $225 million in discretionary K-12 state education cuts. Wake's share of those discretionary cuts is $21.7 million.
School leaders complained that until just before the state budget was adopted it had called for raising class sizes in grades 4-12 and slashing TA positions. After Gov. Perdue said she wouldn't support raising class sizes, the budget was revised to eliminate that wording.
Still, Chief Business Officer David Neter said the amount being cut is still the same as if the class sizes were raised and the TAs cut. The state is now calling how districts will cut that same $225 million as discretionary.
From Wake's perspective, it's not discretionary at all. They say the state's $13.4 million in non-discretionary state funding cuts has tied their hands in where they could make the discretionary cuts.
"They knew class sizes had to go up,” said school board member Lori Millberg of state leaders. “They’re passing the buck.”
Wake isn't the only school district to complain that the "discretionary cuts" are not so discretionary.
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Comments
but you got your early Wednesdays didn't ya babe?
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 18:09 — AngelaWOnly 911 have been hired back, that's not a plus," said Jennifer Lanane, president of the Wake chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators. "We've got 2,400 new students and we have 600 less employees. What kind of win is that?"
You're an EDUCATOR?
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 20:02 — Apexter"We've got 2,400 new students and we have 600 less employees. What kind of win is that?"
Good grief, Ms. Lanane. You're supposed to be a teacher. We don't have LESS employees, we have FEWER employees. LESS means not as much; FEWER means not as many.
My mother is spinning in her grave. She wasn't a teacher; she was just someone who cared about the English language.
Priorities
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 17:19 — RichardAndersonWhy cuts to the classroom? That is the core service and should be cut last.
Just like changes in growth
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 17:15 — RichardAndersonOnce again, WCPSS fails to see what is coming to the detriment of our children. Anyone who 8 months ago didn't realize that budgets would be slashed was either stoned or dead.
Good grief, listen to them whine!
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 17:11 — g88ky07They had NO idea this was coming! They thought "stimulus money" was going to save the day! Jennifer Lanane looking like her world just ended! Lori Millberg blaming the Governor! David Neter saying no money for books next year! Bus rides getting longer and longer!
Come on folks, are you serious??????????????????? I know you are, that's what's sad! You're all so very, very sad and have failed our children terribly! What say you Horace Tart!
They should not bank on
Tue, 08/18/2009 - 20:23 — gwaihirThey should not bank on stimulus money anyway. Arne Duncan has made it clear that states which restrict charter schools are not going to do very well in "Race to the Top".