The budget news is getting even worse for the Wake County school system.
Chief Business Officer David Neter told school board members today to expect a 3 percent state funding cut for this fall that would cost the district $20 million. He said this cut would directly impact the classroom.
Neter said plans on where the cuts would be made will be presented to the finance committee next week.
This $20 million in state cuts comes on top of an existing $20 million budget shortfall that will lead to layoffs of more than 70 employees and other cuts to existing services.
And if the news couldn't get more bleak, Neter told the board that they're now looking at a projected $5 million shortfall in this year's budget in fines and forfeitures, interest income and e-rate income.
Neter said departments were told last week to freeze non-essential spending to try to cover the $5 million.
Comments
And the board's priorities are
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 12:23 — user12345Hire another lawyer
Move a high school
Change the calendar on donor's schools
Conduct a survey and ignore the results
End Wednesday learning time for teachers
Fire Superintendent
End diversity
Change the bell schedule
Reassign some donor's nodes
School lunches
Even Better...
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 17:40 — occum_sharpeThe days of long bus rides are over right?
Not if you live in Node 244.5 and 244.6.
Their new Middle School assignment is 14 miles, one way, from their homes and their high school assignment is now a whopping 21 miles, one way from their homes.
Our school board saving the taxpayers money.
Hang onto your wallet!
I think you're confused,
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 18:14 — jenmanI think you're confused, occum. Those 2 nodes are now being given a traditional calendar option, something that they were never given before. Your base assignments are still the same--SE Raleigh High and Centennial Middle. But now you can apply for traditional options if the modified calendar doesn't work for you. I agree that the trad options are far away, but your base assignment hasn't changed from what I've looked at.
I like the definition of Option
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 18:42 — occum_sharpePardon me for mis stating, but I understand and know my base schools.
What's mindblowing is if you're in High Dollar Cary, going from McCrimmon Parkway to Weatherstone (6-8 miles) is too far for a traditional option so they want to jam pack Cedar Fork because it is what the parents want.
But in the Brentwood area, in a diverse node, it's OK to have a traditional option that is an hour away.
Depends on where you live I guess.
Fair and Balanced. Makes me want to puke!
I'm sorry, I read your post
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 19:23 — jenmanI'm sorry, I read your post as you thinking that you had been reassigned to those other schools.
No, I don't think that those options are ok. Did you and your neighbors speak up about it? Who is your board rep? Did you write to him or her to ask for a closer option? I know that having your own board rep behind you is HUGE.
So...
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 12:43 — Bob_SconceNote that the change to the bell schedule was proposed by staff to save money. That's exactly the sort of thing the board should be dealing with.
The constant complaining with the same litany is getting old. Repeating it doesn't do any good.
staff yes
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 14:01 — Dove314But Goldman sent them back to the drawing board to look for savings elsewhere so little girls can make 4 pm dance
User you tell were in Wake
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 12:36 — Duhhuh666User you tell were in Wake county we have 2 high schools within a mile and a half of each other( driving distance not as the crow flys)? Thats right we dont, so why build a new high school 1.5 miles down the road from the last high school you built?
Panther Creek and Green Hope
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 12:41 — user12345Panther Creek and Green Hope are across the street from each other. I am not sure what that has to do with the Board's lack of focus on school's financial crisis ... $20M next year and $80M the year after.
Not quite 2.9 miles apart
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 22:53 — local23Panther Creek is on one side of Hwy 55 near the brand new exit going in for 540 (Ron's) and Green Hope is on the other side of Hwy 55 by either entering off of Morrisville Carpenter Rd or Church Rd (Prickett). They really serve two distinct areas.
Now, the new H7 going in a tad further from Panther Creek (off Green Level to Church Rd) and closer to Green Hope (soon they should be opening Morrisville Pkwy all the way thru and easier access) which will make 3 High Schools probably within a 7 mile radius - Gotta love progress!
It has to do with no matter
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 13:00 — Duhhuh666It has to do with no matter what they do you will disagree with it!! H6 should not be built were it was planned. The site was poor and would have resulted in enormous cost over runs. Heritage High hasnt even opened and they are building another school 1.5 miles down the road? And ending diversity, changing the bell schedule and firing (he quit or was it resigned no thats right he retired) the superintendent will save money so they are doing just as you have asked!!!
There's no proof that the
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 13:10 — danofncThere's no proof that the new assignment model will save money, and significant reason to think it will be more expensive.
No you are correct sending
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 13:16 — Duhhuh666No you are correct sending people to the closest school doesnt reduce transportation cost. It is more cost effective to bus people from SE Raleigh to Cary and from Garner to Wake Forest ect..
OK Genius
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 14:23 — chaboardExplain why Charlotte-Mecklenberg's busing costs went up (and are higher than ours) when they switched to neghborhood schools and why you think our experience will somehow be different.
chaboard... Eric seems to
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 17:58 — Duhhuh666chaboard... Eric seems to have explained the difference, you were comparing apples to tangerines...
Charlotte-Mecklenburg runs a
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 14:36 — Eric_BCharlotte-Mecklenburg runs a two-tier transportation system as opposed to a three-tier system like Wake, so they require more buses. The flip side is that schools probably start at more convenient times for parents in Charlotte.
Charlotte has a higher bus ridership percentage than Wake, provides transportation to all magnet schools and does not utilize express routes like Wake does.
BTW, some of this may have changed because the latest transportation budgets show that Charlotte spent less than Wake in transportation for the 2008-09 school year. Charlotte spent $55.1 million while Wake spent $55.9 million.
That's All About The Parenthetical
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 18:28 — chaboard.....but avoids the main point which was about how Charlotte costs JUMPED when they switched assignment
policies and wondering why we wouldn't see the same phenomenon. I
don't think there's anything in yourresponse that explains why
Charlotte's costs went up compared to Charlotte's previous costs - and
until we know that we can't say it won't happen here.
Look, it's simple common sense...more parental choice means more buses in every neighborhood means more buses. If the plan really does give more parental choice it will pretty much HAVE to cost more.
Great non-response, but
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 20:41 — Duhhuh666Great non-response, but logic is not on your side. Did Charlotte and Wake run the same number of buses? Did they transport the same number of students? Did the buses run multiple shifts? What were fuel cost for each? Did one have a major purchase of buses that the other did not have? Until you answer these questions and have a true apple to apple comparison. But nice try.
Thanks for the answer
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 16:26 — Duhhuh666Thanks for the answer Eric_B...
And nothing but silence from chaboard.....
Go Back To Your Duh Hole, Huh troll
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 18:30 — chaboard...
Intelligent response...But
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 21:08 — Duhhuh666Intelligent response...But what else can you expect from someone as well, well..Sorry I just cant stoop as low as you, I believe you advance your arguement with logic and facts not insults and childish behavior. When you asked the question about busing I thought you knew the answer, I will make a note to remind me not to assume you are knowledgeable about the subject you are commenting on.....
Since you are the genius you
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 14:30 — Duhhuh666Since you are the genius you explain it...Not being familarwith Charlotte-Mecklenburg I would not attempt to compare them to Wake County, but someone as smart as you could...
ok
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 16:28 — Duhhuh666ok
More choices, more
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 14:31 — danofncMore choices, more dollars.
It's really that simple.
More choices more happiness,
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 14:34 — Duhhuh666More choices more happiness, I dont mind paying for what I want...
I disagree
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 14:44 — doctorjPublic school is not supposed to be a perfect fit for every single situation. Parents have to be expected to make some sacrifices. I hope the story about changing bell schedules for 4pm dance classes is something someone made up. All these choices need to be reduced if it is going to increase the budget significantly. I mean I like choices but if it is causing the schools to have to cut electives, basic supplies and other offerings then maybe some choices need to go. I'm constantly sending in supplies to my kids kindergarten as are other parents and they are totally depending on the donations. If people are still that unhappy at the end of the day, there are private schools. I don't know why this thing has gotten so complicated. I went to a little country school in rural SC and there were no choices but all the parents somehow made it work.
4 pm dance class
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 12:24 — Dove314Debra Goldman made the remark about ES children/girls making 4 pm dance lessons at the COW Board Meeting on 23 March 2010 regarding why the proposal from staff to change the bell schedule was not acceptable and raising the idea of flipping ES children to Tier 1 and moving HS children to Tier 3.
Don't be dense. It has
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 13:22 — danofncDon't be dense.
It has been suggested that the new model may have up to 3 choices for each family (1 YR, 2 TR options) in a zone. If the buses have to triple up in a neighborhood, instead of that neighborhood being assigned to one school and any adjustments/transfer requests not including transportation, then the costs will go up.
Right now, a bus comes past my house and goes to my daughter's ES. Under the new plan, there could be 3 buses coming through here to pick up ES kids.
Don't forget....85-90% of kids already go to school 5 miles or less from their house. You aren't going to save that much by eliminating the relative few long bus rides.
Dont be obtuse
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 13:38 — Duhhuh666There are already 3 or more choices plus diversity busing.
Then why was "parental
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 13:43 — danofncThen why was "parental choice" such a hot button issue in the campaign?
and tiresome
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 14:22 — loriacand some of the 'choices' were intentionally odious (Chuck Dulaney's word), or non-existant (ie, all are eligible to APPLY to magnet schools, but some nodes had essentially a zero chance of being selected)
intentionally odious
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 22:55 — carson79intentionally odious
Where did you hear him say this?
essentially a zero chance
This is factually incorrect.
Because the prior board
Tue, 04/06/2010 - 13:59 — Duhhuh666Because the prior board decided for you which option was best for you..