Budget Crunch: Longer School Days, Reduction in Force Possible for Decatur Schools

Superintendent Phyllis Edwards has sent a summary to the school board for Tuesday's City Schools of Decatur board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at th on Scott Boulevard.

A few highlights from her summary:

First, City Schools of Decatur is looking at longer school days. From the summary:

Simone Elder is working on bus schedules and just the other day, we finalized the start and ending times with the high school getting a 15 minute earlier start and the elementary schools (K-3) will be starting 30 minutes earlier. We have been talking for some time now about the extension of the elementary day and this will address it by 30 minutes and make all schools the same number of hours of instruction. I am putting this change in because of the emphasis on a number of areas of concern regarding the school day e.g., recess along with trying to fit everything into the school day. These start and end times will be vetted with the City so they can make accommodations for guards. We continue to work with the City on determining the best routes to schools.

Edwards also writes this about the cuts and also includes some updates:

A huge blow to our Pre-Kindergarten program came in an announcement from the Governor that the program would only be funded for 5.5 hours not a full day.  We  immediately pulled together to determine the losses to the system financially and what direction we should take.  We developed a letter to the parents explaining what we think are our options.  Supposedly, this will create more slots, but I for one, cannot see how this is to be done.  One thing is certain in my mind: the school system cannot support the program--to keep it whole--without asking for assistance from the parents.  The approximate level of cuts would be around $400,000.  We have high quality, experienced Pre-Kindergarten teachers, paras, as well as benefits that we must cover.  Already we know that we have 200 people for approximately 120 slots.  These are tough times and tough calls must be made.  Please see the letter developed for the parents.

And while the school continues to work and rework its budget, Edwards included some notes about that as well:

While I was not at the last meeting, I heard that there was some concern about the budget presentation.  I have worked with Theresa Link and the staff and we have developed possible cuts totaling $750,000.  We have been cutting now for a number of years and the choices are not good. There will always be an area that someone will not want cut.  However, we think we have prioritized well. This action coupled with the fact that we expect to gather about 1 to 2 million from, believe it or not, additional revenue and this will pull our fund balance up to a respectable starting amount.  This year, in April, it may become necessary to put a Reduction In Force (RIF) plan in place. Naturally, we will continue practicing conservative budgeting, such as only accounting for the receipt of a portion of state funds and taxes. In the past, this practice has served us well. Ms. Link's updated presentation is attached and I will ask her to go through it under my report time.

Theresa Link has accepted a position with Dalton Public School System. We are saddened to lose her; though we wish her all the best in her new position.  We have advertised and have some good leads for potential finance directors.