Monday, May 14, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
CONYERS -- Rockdale County Public Schools is proposing at least $15 million in cuts for next school year because of expected state and local revenue shortfalls.
RCPS Chief Financial Officer Lee Davis presented a list of $15.3 million in cuts to the Rockdale County Board of Education's finance committee on Thursday.
The proposed cuts include:
-- suspending alternative retirement contribution for the third consecutive year to save $3.6 million,
-- removing at least three staff days from the calendar to save $1.5 million,
-- deferring textbook purchases for the second consecutive year to save more than $2.7 million,
-- deferring computer and laptop replacements to save more than $1.5 million,
-- increasing class size to eliminate 58 teacher positions to save nearly $3.9 million,
-- outsourcing custodial services to save $1 million,
-- eliminating 17 central office positions to save nearly $1 million.
RCPS officials also proposed using $1.5 million in reserve funds to balance the budget.
RCPS Superintendent Samuel King has proposed that the school board approve a calendar for the 2012-13 school year with at least three staff furlough days. The calendar would be 180 student days and 187 staff days; a normal calendar year includes 180 student days and 190 staff days.
Davis said Thursday that more furlough days could be added if the state informs him of increased health costs, as he had heard could happen.
In April, he had expected adding between five and 10 staff furlough days to the calendar.
Eliminating 58 teacher positions also is less than originally expected. The initial expectation was 69 teachers. The eliminations occur through resignations, retirements and other natural attrition.
With staff cuts, base class size student-teacher ratios would be 21.9:1 for elementary schools, 27.1:1 for middle schools and 22:1 for high schools, but gifted, exploratory and federally-funded Title I teachers would reduce the ratio even more, according to RCPS.
Cuts to central office positions include special education consultants, a prevention intervention specialist, a warehouse position, a transportation supervisor, a buildings and grounds mechanic, a social worker position and several secretarial positions.
Next school year's cuts continue the four-year trend of multi-million dollar cuts, with next year's being the largest.
Last school year, RCPS cut more than $9 million, including eliminating programs like summer school and drivers education, making enrichment camps fee-based and eliminating several central office positions. The millage rate also was increased.
For the 2010-11 school year, RCPS cut more than $10 million, and more than $4 million was cut the prior school year.
The school board is expected to adopt a tentative budget Thursday.
The board is expected to approve a final budget on June 14 and a millage rate in July or August, according to its budget calendar.
The next public meeting for budget discussions is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14, in the board room at the RCPS central complex, which is located at 954 North Main St. in Conyers.
More like this story
- RCPS proposes $124M budget for 2012-13 ( May 15, 2012 )
- Rockdale school board approves final budget ( June 23, 2012 )
- RCPS looks at $13 million in budget cuts ( April 18, 2011 )
- RCPS could add 10 furlough days to school calendar ( April 21, 2012 )
- RCPS expects to cut budget up to $10M ( May 12, 2010 )
Comments
TheEx 1 year ago
And yet King can find money to pay for an executive coach to help the principal of Conyers Middle School learn how to do her job even though she was mentored by the school's former principal and current assistant superintendent Eugene Baker for several years and has been in the position for four years? Are you kidding me??? If she can't do the job (which apparently she can't), find someone else so we can keep a teacher or two in the classroom!
CCHTS 1 year ago
I would like the Citizen to investigate the legality of suspending the contributions to the alternative retirement system for the teachers. They do not contribute to Social Security and the alternate retirement is supposed to replace the mandate for SS contribution.
johndoemo_ 1 year ago
Am I the only one that sees a pattern here. They are cutting county office positions but they are secretaries, groundskeeper -type jobs. What about the folks making 90k+? I think it is a sorry state of affairs that the people in management positions in this system are always cutting the jobs of the people who are really working. I would rather keep the groundskeeper and cut the "instructional Supervisor" making 110k. How about, instead of cutting those positions, you cut 20% from the salaries of everyone making over 100K?
thescot 1 year ago
It appears that the high paying jobs, e.g., the many assitant superintendents and public relations tupes, are all protected. They only plan to lay off the people who actually work, like teachers (!), mechanics, etc. That's about par for the course.
EarlyBird 1 year ago
Seriously folks, can we start with a clean sweep at the voting booth and get rid of Barksdale and his Barney Fife mentality underlings?
CitizenPat 1 year ago
So, how about all that extra money the Clerk of the Courts is making in Rockdale? Sounds like the department of Education could really use that money. Oh but wait... she gets to keep it right? Why not try and ask all DOE employees making over say $40,000 a year take a 3% cut in pay across the board; wouldn't that help to avoid anyone losing their job??
If our kids don't start getting the advanced Education they need to compete in a global society then pretty soon the US of A will be made in China... WE NEED GOOD TEACHERS not Larger Classrooms
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