- School Budget FAQs - March 31st, 2009
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- Budget Forum April 1st, 6pm, Fulton High School
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- If you have questions, concerns or suggestions regarding the
school budget, please attend tomorrow’s public forum at Fulton
High School at 6pm. Dr. McIntyre will give an overview of the
entire budget proposal and then take questions and comments from
the audience. You can read an excellent summary of the budget
at www.knoxschools.org.
- How do the numbers look?
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- We have an expected shortfall of $11m for the next school
year. The proposed budget makes cuts across the system,
trimming $5.29m from Central Office and District-wide positions,
and $3.9m from school-based positions. Of the 154 positions
cut, 69 are classroom teachers and one educational assistant.
Other eliminated positions include 2 assistant principals, 4
supervisors, 38 custodians, 10 maintenance workers, 4 Talented
and Gifted (TAG) teachers, 21 clerical positions, data
processing staff and a few others. Most of the positions can be
eliminated through retirements and normal attrition, but some
people will be losing jobs. The balance comes from cuts to
supplies and contracted services. There are tables, charts, and
a narrative summary at www.knoxschools.org.
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- Is it true some of our high schools won’t start until
9:30am?
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- One component of the budget proposal would move the start
times of 7 area high schools, including Fulton and Central, to
9:30am. There are pros and cons to this proposal, from the
perspective of families, teachers, and after school activities.
I am trying to sort through the associated challenges and
determine which of the obstacles are insurmountable and which
are manageable. I also asked the Superintendent to research how
this has been done in other communities and what the effects
have been.
- No doubt implementing a change like this would wreak havoc
on some family schedules and require lots of flexibility,
especially during the transition. However, research indicates
that a later start can benefit students academically because
they get more sleep. The proposal would also save $700k in
transportation costs, which helps us avoid further cuts to the
classroom.
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- What about the federal stimulus dollars for public
schools?
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- In Tennessee the bulk of the education stimulus funds will
be used for higher education. Some stimulus dollars will be
used to fully fund the k-12 Basic Education Program (BEP)
funding formula, but we won’t get any direct infusions to our
general budget.
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- We do expect an influx of new funds for Title I (i.e. high
poverty) schools and for Special Education (IDEA). We don’t
yet know when those monies will arrive, how much we’ll get or
what strings will be attached. Stimulus dollars will exist only
for two years, so we will spend them on non-recurring items,
such as supplies or professional development.
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- Are there any silver linings?
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- The news is not all bad. The proposed budget maintains
funding for our literacy initiative, Project GRAD, magnet
schools, and pre-k and further develops professional,
collaborative learning communities for teachers. Our enrollment
has grown by 1000 students this school year, which will bring us
significant extra money from the state. It’s also the most
transparent, accessible and rational budget I’ve seen in my 5
years on the School Board.
- In other news…
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- Input on new principal for Christenberry Elementary
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- A big thanks to Dr. Martha Jean Bratton, who is retiring at
the end of this school year after many years of service as
principal and teacher with Knox County Schools. It is Dr.
McIntyre’s role to hire school principals, and he is seeking
input from the community on qualities to look for in the next
principal. What characteristics do you think are needed to lead
Christenberry? Please come to a meeting next Tuesday, April
7th, at 6:30pm to share your thoughts.
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- Wellness Challenge
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- As you may recall from a previous update, I led a School
Board team in the Knox County Schools Wellness Challenge.
Thanks to Thomas Deakins, Karen Carson, Sam Anderson and Carol
Ann Routh for participating.
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- My personal goals for the 8 weeks were to trim 8 minutes
from my running time, to lose 8 pounds and to sleep 8 hours a
night. I managed to run fast enough and to lose 7 pounds, but
consistently sleeping 8 hours a night is an on-going challenge.
I’ve decided sleep is essential to pretty much everything
else, so with that I will close this update and go to bed!
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- Very Truly Yours,
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Indya
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