Budget cuts are coming to the Flagler County school district—deep, broad cuts that will affect almost all faculty, staff and students in one way or another, including the elimination of 40 teaching positions in middle and high schools over the next two years and the reduction of the school day in middle and high school from seven periods to six. The shorter day will also apply in elementary school.
Teachers’ planning schedules will change (currently every teacher gets one planning period during the school day). Employees who work longer than the 180-workday schedule of teachers will see their days reduced five or six days, depending on their position. That includes some service workers. And every one of the district’s para-professionals will see their work days reduced by four.
Most of the 40 teaching positions would likely be eliminated in the coming school year, although like several other proposals, the school board would have to negotiate the cuts with the teachers and service employees unions. It could not enact them unilaterally. And principals will attempt to minimize actual job losses by leaving vacant positions unfilled and spreading some of the cuts over two years, so the actual number of teachers losing jobs would be smaller.
The Flagler County School Board held a four-hour workshop on budget cuts this morning, extended through lunch, with the district’s top administrators, including all but one school principal. Led by Board Chairwoman Sue Dickinson and Superintendent Janet Valentine. The board approached matters systematically, with a list of 17 budget-cut proposals totaling an annual saving of $4.7 million in a $100 million general-fund budget. That was the savings goal the board was trying to reach.
Four hours later, it had agreed to cuts totaling $3.6 million—a figure it could live with, but only by dipping into reserves by about $1 million a year. That’s assuming that Gov. Rick Scott’s proposed cuts to school funding go through, and the district’s school population remains as static as it is this year. The cuts are necessary because the nearly $5 million in federal stimulus funding, which staved off cuts in the current and previous years, are running out, with no replacement in sight and no pick-up in the local or state economy to project better property tax revenues. Scott’s cuts would be compounding the loss of federal funding.
None of the board’s decisions were formal: the board didn’t vote, and couldn’t vote, this being a workshop, and there’s still plenty of negotiating ahead. But Valentine wanted clear direction from the board on her recommendations—which were to be pursued, and which weren’t. She got both.
“The thing I think it’s important for all of us to keep in mind is that this is a very difficult task in front of us, and it’s going after each one of our hearts, each one of us has in-depth love, caring,” Dickinson said at one point, when fellow-board member Colleen Conklin characterized as a “waste of time” to be considering some of the cuts on the list, which had little support from board members. “Colleen you and I spent a lot of time on these programs”—Dickinson and Conklin are in the 10th year of their service on the school board—“they’re dear to us, and no, we don’t want to lose them, but unfortunately we’re going to have to do something, whether it’s these programs or the rest of what we’re going to talk about. I agree with you, but yet on the other hand we know we’re at bare bones.”
Other programs that were spared elimination: Phoenix Academy, campus police (that is, “school resource deputies”: the proposal to eliminate middle school deputies was scrapped), the service learning programs for 38 students at Linear Park and Princess Place Preserve. Pathways, the district’s alternative school, was one of the programs that could have been cut. The budget there will be cut, for a saving of $250,000, but the school itself will remain.
By far the largest saving would be generated by eliminating the 40 teachers and reconfiguring the teacher-planning period. (Valentine is referring to it as “common planning,” which would be considered for either before or after [the] school day.) That would generate $2.5 million in savings.
The reduction by six days in the work schedule of year-long employees—including administrators and the superintendent—would save $350,000. Valentine’s salary would, in fact, be cut. The reduction of other employees’ schedules would save an additional $162,000, while para-professionals’ schedule reductions to a 186-day schedule and a 6.5-hour per day schedule would save an additional $186,000.
The district also projects energy savings of $300,000 by holding all summer programs at Buddy Taylor Middle School and Wadsworth Elementary, and closing all school buildings for two weeks during the year (the week of July 4 and the last week in December). The middle school campus advisor position would also be eliminated, for a saving of $41,000.
Toward the end of the meeting, school board members proposed some of their own ideas either to generate savings or revenue. Trevor Tucker proposed indexing all salaries to the district’s revenue stream, based on percentages. In a year when revenue falls by a set percentage, then salaries would follow accordingly. In a year when revenue would increase by a set percentage, then salaries would rise accordingly. Heads nodded, though it wasn’t clear whether in agreement or disbelief.
The same reaction greeted Conklin’s proposal, which, knowing how far out it was—especially for Conklin, who’s not been known to propose ideas generated by conservative think tanks—she prefaced with a series of qualifiers. The idea: eliminate health benefits as a district-based package, and let employees shop for their own on the open market, where they may find better rates.
Those were just ideas, not recommendations or proposals the board agreed to, as in the other series of hard-dollar cuts.
Just before 5 p.m. today, Valentine sent an email to her staff and all school district employees outlining the board’s agreement at the morning workshop. “These are tough discussions and even tougher decisions,” she concluded. “We will weather this storm together.”
Shelly Wood says
I am sad because this is what my daughter is going to school for. Teachers should be rewarded a lot more for all the wonderful things they do. It is sad that professional athletes and stars get paid millions but teachers, police officers, firefighters etc. aren’t shown how much they are appreciated!
Michelle says
This is a sad situation…so much for no child left behind…makes me want to rethink the degree in teaching that i am working to get.
PCadiron says
This is why my child will be in private school as long as we live here, which is sad considering we also pay taxes in addition to tuition.
I’m sure a lot of families will be leaving Florida if they are financially able.
Well... says
This is ridiculous. The first item on the agenda that is attacked when the money is tight is education. Why educate the public when we can keep them stupid? Why move forward in science, math, language, when we can focus the decimation of women’s rights and close-minded attacks on people that are different? I keep saying it but we are witnessing the decline of America and it has nothing to do with Obama. We have been on this path for decades, since the start of “Reaganomics” which elevated the rich and allowed class warfare to gain a strong foothold in society. Videos on youtube show people of all ages being asked simple questions, was Andrew Jackson president, what is the capital of Michigan, where is Iraq on a map and people have no clue (real or facetious for a laugh). It is a sad state of affairs that we have going on in this country and it does not matter who is in charge, it was a predestined course of action.
HUH says
If they shorten the HS and Middle school day by 1 period/class, how will students be able to fulfill the graduation/promotion requirements? Don’t they need to have a certain number of credits every year?
What happened since Dec? says
In December 2010 the school district gave out raises that require $2.4 million per year of additional spending. I guess there was no plan in place to pay for the raises.
Maya says
This is completely predictable. The taxes that we pay where do they go? The most important thing now is educating the students now more than ever. They watch all that nonsense on television, they end up drinking, doing drugs, being disrespectful, getting pregnant. All of those statistics will rise because they will have free time on their hands by cutting days. Are you serious? The level of teaching is horrible. It’s so low it’s completely laughable. Where does all the money go? Building more tennis courts and golf courses? Or maybe tearing up flower beds, sprinkler systems in the medians of the road every year because one tiny thing is messed up. This is a kids future here. Cutting budgets will not help. Hike up taxes, get rid of the no child left behind act, and push education.
Charles Ericksen Jr says
This is just one of the belt tightening challenges we as Flagler County residents, have to face in the next year. Let’s not forget the fact that housing values will again decrease, approximately 10% this year, , and both the City Council/Manager and the County Administrator/Commission will be faced with either a tax increase or reduction in services. This could also, be greater, if less money is available from the State, Federal Government , and mandates… We are far from being out of the hold, of past decisions by government, that have not been thought out, and priced, prior to passage. We must start today, to look at any expenses, that go beyond the present year, for the long term, funding expense. At our level, we cannot just print money to aleviate the problems. We all will have to “contribute” to the fix…
flagler1 says
Not everyone in Flagler County (Flagler Beach) has children in public schools here yet schools still take the largest portion of our real estate taxes. Also, what ever happened to the lottery support?
ForThePeople says
Wow flagler1, how selfish are you? You sound like your retired or don’t have children. If you have children someone’s taxes paid for them, probably back up in NJ. When the stat started the lottery they cut the school budgets back then. Also, as part of being in a community you need to pay for things in that community such as schools, police and firefighters. So by on that note should we just send a bill to anyone that needs police or firefighters, and if they can’t pay then too bad for them. With out education crime will continue to rise and more people will be unemployed and on welfare so you can’y have it both ways. So if you don’t like paying taxes for services offered by the state and county then get the hell out.
ForThePeople says
For all of the right wing tea partiets that want to cut education spending at the state and national level you need to look else where. Did anybody know that the US Army spends over $7 million dollars a year on it’s sponsorship of NASCAR. That amount of money would be better served being spent on education than driving around in circles in front of a bunch of drunk and ignorant rednecks. That amount of money would help Flagler county, so we need to look at exactly what our money is being spent on not cutting programs we think are worthless or not aligned with our ideologies.
Jenn Kuiper says
HUH, I’m not sure about middle school, but at the high school students are required to have 24 credits to graduate. 6 periods a year for 4 years equals just that. There will not be room for one failing grade or extra electives.
frustrated says
Using something other than the $80 a pack “Post-it” template paper they are using would be a good start!!!
Flagler Mom says
This is just extremely sad. And we wonder why we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. We should be budgeting MORE money into our children’s education, not taking away from it. I truly feel sorry for the Teachers and the Students. This is just shameful.
Mike says
Florida has become a disgrace and an embarrassment to public education. Be sure to thank the so-called governor who made this possible. He wants to take away from your children. “Let’s get to Work.” Nice campaign slogan. Maybe he should take his own advice.
Gee…I wonder how much he spent on his own inauguration party? More than $2,000,000. More than twice the amount Crist spent. I wonder if that could have gone to better causes…other than his own self-indulgence and ego?
And he has the audacity to discuss financial cutbacks??????? Keep those blindfolds on, tea-baggers.
palm coaster says
I understand that Rick Scott won only for a small margin of 52% supported by the medical industry of Florida and the big businesses. Now teachers and students among other will endure his special interest lobbying. He needs to raise the billions needed like I said before, from the cruise lines and oil corporations that thanks to the gouging at the pump are posting the largest earnings ever in history and all the wealthy like Warren Buffet as himself complained about this un justice, other than being taxed at 39% plus as we all pay, their rate is from zero to 17%. No cuts in education needed if our tax rate will be equalized for all. Also where goes our Florida lottery revenue as was supposed to be for schools?
Jenn Kuiper says
And honestly, what disgusts me most is how much money these politicians raise to run for office. I mean, really, if there was only a set amount of money to spend, all those millions and sometimes billions of dollars could be put to much better use: Into education, back into the economy, etc.
GhostofJoePyne says
Let’s have accountability for public employees:
Take 25% of salary pool and award as merit pay.
The remaining 75% is base pay.
Teachers who produce substandard students get no merit pay.
Police officers with a crime rate increase in their sector get no merit pay.
Firefighters in a station house in an area where too many fires occur get no merit pay.
Straight Ahead!
Val Jaffee says
To GhostofJoePyne
This seems fair to an extent. But where do we start? For eg, how can we expect a 5th grade teacher to improve a student who has been passed up grade after grade after grade without learning what was taught because the previous teachers did not do their job. Then the blame would pass to each of the child’s previous teachers, because each teacher would blame the previous teacher, ultimately ending with the kindergarten teacher, the child’s first teacher, and this is not entirely true nor fair.
First off, we need to get rid of ineffective teachers. I am in school to become a teacher and some of the things I hear from other students in the program sickens me: Here are a few
If kids don’t get it they are just too dumb.
If the kids are poor, they are not going to amount to much, so no point in educating them.
I only want to work 185 day, no more and I want my summers off, etc, etc. That’s why I’m getting into teaching.
It’s all the parents fault. (forget the fact that they wouldn’t have a job if all the parents home school, or just stop having babies)
Fine, exemplary teachers we are churning out. But where did it all start? I know that I will finish the program, but I don’t know if I can become a teacher. I annoy a lot of people for speaking up, but I don’t want to have to shut up.
LivingInReality says
Teachers are working with the hand they dealt. Administrators are the one that need to be looked at as well. I think that school has been made too easy on the students now. They are allowed to retake tests if they don’t get at least an 80, they can bring notes to excuse an absence from the beginning of the year at the end of the year. Principals tell teaches not to fail students because it has a negative effect on the grade the school gets. So even if a student does no work in a class the still get a passing grade. If a student fails a test or doesn’t do homework then they don’t pass plain and simple. I think people should take a look at the administrators since they are in charge of the schools. They say they are the ones that make the final decisions then they should be even more accountable than the teachers. Flagler county principals want to be in charge of everything including student expression, but if something may hurt their
its not their fault it a bad teacher, not bad administration, the administrator is the one that hired the “bad” teacher. Are administrators giving teachers the resources they need to succeed? No, they are not, it’s just sink or swim.