2010-11 Budget Q&A
Who determines how reductions to the budget will be made?
The Durham Public Schools Budget Advisory Committee met in January and February to discuss funding priorities for the coming school year. They presented a list of recommendations to the Interim Superintendent. In addition, principals talked with their staff members and submitted suggestions. Central Services department leaders also were asked to recommend cuts. From this input, the Interim Superintendent is working with finance officials to develop a proposed budget. This information will be provided to Board of Education members for their consideration. The reductions largely depend upon how much state and local money DPS receives so it may be June or July before the complete budget picture is known.
Why do we hear about teacher layoffs during budget crises, but it doesn’t appear that Central Services cuts positions?
In fact, a total of 61 Central Services positions were cut for the 2009-10 school year. More are expected to be made for the coming year. These 61 positions were among the 298 positions DPS cut before the start of the 2009-10 school year. There will be additional Central Services cuts for 2010-11.
What efforts will be made to protect teacher positions and classroom instruction?
Personnel comprises more than 80 percent of the DPS total budget. DPS principals and administrators have been instructed to look at every line item in their respective budgets to trim unnecessary or expendable costs. Everything possible to minimize layoffs will be done, but because so much of our budget rests in personnel, there will most likely be a number of positions that will be cut. As many of these as possible will be realized through attrition and retirement.
What about lottery funds—doesn’t DPS get lottery funds for schools?
It is a little known fact that just 2 percent of the State Public School Fund comes from lottery dollars and DPS gets just $4.8 million annually for construction projects that must be approved by the county and the state before the project can proceed.
What about federal stimulus money that was supposed to help save jobs? How is DPS using that money?
DPS is receiving $23.3 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to be spent by September 2011. The funds have primarily been used to retain 267 positions that would have had to be cut otherwise. DPS has used 70 percent of its federal stimulus money, leaving just 30 percent for the 2010-11 school year.
Why can’t DPS just dip into its rainy day or savings account—surely there is one, correct?
Due to unexpected state and local funding cuts during the 2008-09 school year, DPS has just over $800,000 in what is termed an “unappropriated” fund balance. The CPA independent auditor who reviews DPS finance records recommends the district have $16 million in unappropriated fund balance. Other districts of similar size have much larger fund balances and can dip into those funds when times are tight.
Can we eliminate benchmark testing or at least not have a benchmark test every marking period?
Testing is one of the areas that is expected to be studied in depth for possible reductions. In the Superintendent Search surveys, in feedback from schools and at essentially every meeting where budget comes up, testing is presented as an area for reductions.
