Budget / SPLOST / Superintendent Search

I've received numerous emails about the proposed 2011-2012 budget and I've tried to keep updated on the news stories and blogs regarding the subject. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and critiques even when we disagree. Thank you for keeping informed about the process!

Based on the questions I've received and the comments I've read, I thought I'd include some of my thoughts and details in an email.

I understand that the furlough days are of the most concern so let me address that first. I'm very disappointed that furlough days will be used again this year. Many of you know that my mother is a retired public school employee and she reminds me often of the struggles faced by teachers and staff. I surveyed the surrounding metro counties to see how they were handling furlough days for the upcoming school year. I found Gwinnett, Cobb and City of Atlanta will all have furlough days. Fulton County has eliminated them for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Here are the links to the budget documents I reviewed:

Click here for Gwinnett (see page 2 of executive summary).

Click here for Cobb ( see page 2).

Click here for City of Atlanta (see page 9).

Click here for Fulton (see page 9).

Initially the Superintendent and Budget Committee presented a budget to the Board that indicated we would be able to eliminate the furlough days. Subsequent to that time DeKalb's tax digest was reported to have a significant decline - down $1 billion more than expected. Given the continued declination of the tax digest, it was prudent to revisit the budget.

The Budget Committee and staff revisited the budget improvements ($42 million) they had planned for 2011-2012. Of the $42 million, the largest improvement was the restoration of furlough days at a cost of $30 million. The improvement was scaled back to $14.1 million. This means that we are planning for fewer furlough days in the 2011/12 budget (an improvement) but they were not eliminated.

As I reviewed the other systems' budgets (above) and DeKalb's, it is notable that we used our ARRA funds (federal stimulus money) to compensate all employees last year. Other metro area systems placed the funds in reserve to help offset declinations in tax revenue for the upcoming budget year.

SPLOST IV Update

The DeKalb BOE met on Friday, June 3rd to continue receiving presentations about the upcoming SPLOST IV resolution about which we will vote on Monday, June 6, 2011. Please click here to see the presentation from Friday's meeting. You can click hereto see the documents that were presented (slide show). You can click here to view the video of the meeting (click on video below June 3, 2011).

Superintendent Search

I get many questions about the status of our search for a new superintendent. The Board continues to work on this matter. The details of our meetings in executive session cannot be discussed or revealed so I cannot be more specific. Please know that this matter is extremely important to me and I welcome your continued communication. I always want to know your thoughts and concerns.

eBoard

Please note that eBoard (a GSBA owned site that contains DCSS's meeting agendas, documents and policy documents) will be down for a system upgrade from Friday, 6/3/11 through 6am on Monday 6/6/11. I hope that no one is too inconvenienced.

As always, don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Thanks!

--Nancy