Manatee County Schools Budget Cuts

BY MEGAN DOWNS
FLORIDA TODAY
January 21, 2009

VIERA -- The Brevard County School Board prepared for a $10.06 million cut Tuesday, while bracing for a bigger blow to hit classrooms next school year.

In February, cuts will be made without eliminating jobs or taking any serious slashes to classrooms. But next year´s cuts will be painful, Superintendent Richard DiPatri warned the board and the public.

“We are trying to get through this year in the best way you can without staff reductions or program reductions,” DiPatri told the board Tuesday night.

Next year, however, Brevard Public Schools could be looking at a reduction of $60 million to $70 million, district officials estimate.

“Whatever it is, we are going to have significant problems,” DiPatri said. “But the school board can´t do anything about this if you wanted them to. If we are going to change the scenario, it has to be directed at the Legislature.”

Here´s a look at what likely will be cut by February, pending the board´s approval:

$4.3 million: Will be taken from the capital fund, instead of the operating budget, for property insurance.

$3 million: Taken from a textbook reserve fund.

$2.7 million: Elimination of all teacher reserve positions.

$1.2 million: Additional reserve positions, mostly for teachers and aides for exceptional education students

$1 million: Taken out of educational technology. This typically is used to refresh old programs and upgrading to meet standards.

$400,000: Results from a districtwide overtime freeze.

$100,000: Reduction of money spent on the accreditation for voluntary pre-kindergarten programs.

After these reductions, the board will effectively cut $12.7 million, that´s roughly $3.1 million more than they need to, so that they can end the year in the black, DiPatri said.

At the televised board meeting, DiPatri and board members encouraged members of the public to contact legislators about next year´s deeper cuts that could likely shut down some schools, end some sports or result in extensive layoffs.

“This is where the rubber meets the road,” board Chairman Robert Jordan said. “But the legislators don´t want to hear from us. . . . When they start hearing from parents, and grandparents and aunts and uncles they are going to listen.”

The board will meet with the Brevard County legislative delegation 2 p.m. Thursday in a public meeting at the school board headquarters to discuss cuts to schools.

Florida Sen. Thad Altman and Rep. Debbie Mayfield will not attend. State Sen. Mike Haridopolos plans to attend.

DiPatri sent a memo to all employees about the financial picture.

“It is important that our individual and collective voices be heard NOW,” he wrote. “Call, write or visit (do not e-mail on school equipment) your legislators´ offices to express your concerns. Failing to do so will make these potential reductions a reality for the 2009-2010 school year.”

Additional Facts
What´s next

School board officials will meet with members of the Brevard County legislative delegation at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Educational Services Facility, 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera

Brevard Public Schools will have a town hall meeting with Brevard´s lawmakers at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the King Center in Melbourne. FLORIDA TODAY will moderate the forum.

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