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School Budget Discussion

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by shim, Jan 8, 2009.

  1. bird

    bird New Member

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    Maybe I'm wrong, but weren't the budget meetings held after Hatrick put the budget (and proposed tiers/cuts) together? Families impacted by the proposed elementary school closings were very vocal, yet it is still included in the 10% level cuts. I don't think the budget/cuts were developed based on what is desired or acceptable to the public; in fact the opposite.

    Most people don't want teachers to lose their jobs, nor do we want education to suffer (and Hatrick is banking on this). But realistically, every business in every industry is having to get spending under control, and layoffs are everywhere. Part of this is a necessary cyclical market correction, after years of boom and bloat. Why should Education be exempt from this process?

    As was pointed out, why not reduce central office staffing ($3million) and save some teaching positions? There are many possible cuts that would not harm the core of education. What about eliminate the useless Spanish program in elementary school (reducing it to once/week saves $1.2million, so the total cost must be about $3million). Do we need every single guidance counselor, every dean, every asst.athletic director? $4million in potential cuts are changes to employee health care plan - all businesses are facing this. $1.8million in potential cuts is related to architectural/engineering services and land use - which doesn't affect education. $1.1million in potential cuts is to reduce employee development, perhaps a necessary and temporary cutback in order to save jobs, just like other companies do. Lastly, not every job elimination is a person being laid off; it could be an empty position not filled.

    There are many examples of potential savings that do not harm education. The BOS should insist on some of these, with the aim of saving teaching positions while saving taxpayer money. But this doesn't seem to be how the process goes.
     
  2. pbjstokes

    pbjstokes New Member

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    The Board of Supervisors has no say on what the School Board spends it's money on. They only can decide on how much the School System gets every year.
     
  3. pbjstokes

    pbjstokes New Member

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    My two cents....

    ...Everything I read about the education budget "crisis" talks about administrators and teachers....what about the all of the "other" people that work for LCPS???...I'm talking about the classified employees. The bus drivers, custodians, IT people, assistants, accountants, etc....no one ever talks about them. I know these people....I am proud to say I am one of these people. We're like the red headed step child of the LCPS family. We are the reason that students, teachers and administrators have lights in their building, clean hallways, computers that work, phones are answered and everything else that it takes to support LCPS....but the way everyone talks about "oh the teachers", you sometimes wouldn't know we exist.

    I don't work in a school or at the "Palace" on Education court. (BTW, everyone that works at the Administrative Building isn't an administrator....the majority of the people are lower paid classified positions). I work in a very old building that the windows don't close and the roof leaks...to support students, teachers and administrators to make LCPS a better place to learn. I have worked for LCPS for over 10 years and let me tell you, I make 30K-50K less than I would if I worked in the "real world". I am not rich. Just because my family can afford to live in Loudoun County, doesn't make me wealthy....it makes me fortunate.

    So before people say "let's get rid of non-educators", let's just remember it takes more then teachers and administrators to make LCPS the world-class education system that it is now.
     
  4. sunnydog

    sunnydog New Member

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    These cuts were already made before the proposed budget was brought forward. Remember, the budget is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than last year because these cuts were already made. Here is the full budget, what is not included are the cuts we made prior to this. http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/lo...0_School_Board_Proposed_Operating_Budgets.pdf
     
  5. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    i hope everyone with such good information and input HERE actually attends the meeting. maybe a turnout of informed residents can make an impact that will make a difference for our kids educational experience and the livelihood of our friends and neighbors. but a silent majority will be OVERLOOKED. as we all know...
     
  6. sunnydog

    sunnydog New Member

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    If you are interested in seeing how other public speakers fared last night click here:
    http://loudoun.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=35

    Go to the bottom, first row:
    Budget Public Hearing 6:00 P.M. Feb 25, 2009 03h 00m Agenda View/Listen Open Video Only in Windows Media Player Download MP3 Audio

    While it is 3 hours long, you can jump ahead to public comments and pick and choose.
     
  7. jdhauer

    jdhauer Active Member

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    Just remember that if you wish to speak, you MUST sign up ahead of time! Just call 703-777-0204 to get on the schedule.
     
  8. sunnydog

    sunnydog New Member

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The chief of a North Carolina school system says he doesn't want a $7,500 raise that is called for in his contract.

    The News & Record of Greensboro reported Friday that Guilford County school superintendent Maurice Green told the school board that giving him the 3 percent raise during the poor economy would create a hardship for the school system.

    Green's salary is $250,000 and his contract calls for a raise in July.

    The school board unanimously approved Green's request.

    Guilford County faces a potential $8 million sales tax revenue shortfall and the state, which also funds local schools, is facing a $2.2 billion revenue deficit.

    ———

    Information from: News & Record, http://www.news-record.com
     
  9. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    Wow I am in the wrong business :)

    But it is nice that he is turning down the raise. It is a nice gesture. If more people in high paying postions were to do that, it could help out. :)

    At least it shows that he is not just about "him".
     
  10. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    He probably realizes that the $7500 raise will put him over the $250k threshold and thus will just get redistributed to the masses anyway. ;)
     
  11. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    What a cynical and jaded opinion that reflects a base distrust in the motivations of political officials....

    I like it! :bow:

    :pofl:
     
  12. neo_mra_ct

    neo_mra_ct New Member

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    It is amazing to me that there are so many people for fully funding the school system at all costs. I agree that education needs to be an extremely high priority in our hometown. I do not agree with the "at all cost" rationalization though.

    I would be very interested to see where all of the funds that the school systems receive are used, I think this should be public knowledge and all debatable. I can guarantee that it is not used wisely. At the very least, why in the world are there so many 200K plus buses transporting kids to schools other than the ones closest to where they live.

    I say the school system should be put under the same scrutiny as all of these large corporations that are currently being bailed out. If you put things into perspective, that is what the school system is asking for as well, to be bailed out.
     
  13. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    I want education for our children to be fully funded. Whether this goal can be met by fully funding the school system is another story.

    A sane and very reasonable viewpoint.. that I happen to share. :)
     
  14. neo_mra_ct

    neo_mra_ct New Member

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  15. neo_mra_ct

    neo_mra_ct New Member

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    Also, in this document, they are listing each employee/teacher/administrators average salary including benefits, not including training or additional college courses is 96K annually. Where does that number come from. That seems a bit excessive, especially since we always here that teachers typically make 40K to 50K.
     
  16. Ozgood

    Ozgood Not a space alien

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    That is a very interesting document. Thanks for posting the link.

    I am, however, not finding in the document where you got the average salary being $96,000 per year. What page is that on.

    On page 9, by taking the total Personnel number for FY 10 and dividing it by the FY 10 FTE I get only $55.6K.

    Where did you get the $96K?
     
  17. cmbm

    cmbm New Member

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    Benefits packages for all people (not just teachers) are usually equal to the actual salary. This includes employer paid FICA, health, liability, unemployment, and lots of other things that people don't usually think about. That is why benefits are such an important part to everyone's compensation packages since they are not cheap when you try to get them on your own.
     
  18. neo_mra_ct

    neo_mra_ct New Member

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    Benefits at most companies, including the one I work for top out at 30% of your actual salary and typically include any kind of school reimbursements that are allowed. According to the link I posted earlier, school and training is actually separated out so it is not included in the benefits package making the benefits package amount valued at something like 25%.

    As far as the salary dollar amount I referenced. I was referencing to page 12 in the section about the new schools being added, Culbert Elementary, Woodgrove and Tuscarora High Schools. They list that an additional 35.5 FTE (Full time employees) will be needed at a cost of 3.42 million. Now I realize there are a range of personel that will need to be filled there including principals, but I also know what principals make, my brother happens to be an elementary school principal and that amount is out of line, there must be other costs being rolled into that amount.

    But seriously folks, 45 million for pupil transporatation, and again, what is fringe costs. That is another 188 million.

    Anyway, I think I am done ranting, I doubt I can make a difference here, just wanted to point out some information.
     
  19. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    The other big ticket item on employee costs is ... da tax man! It's not uncommon to see a ballpark figure of 2x salary for total cost for employee when you count in benefits and uncle sam.
     
  20. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Also interesting that staff folks with salaries above $70,000 also get paid "overtime". I wonder if this is truly necessary. Aren't most higher level staff folks exempt from overtime?
     

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