Operations Questions
April 26, 2010
It's been in the news this week that Wake County Schools is considering a 4-day school week. Is DPS also considering that? If it were to be adopted, how would a 4-day school week impact instruction and staff?
The General Assembly would have to act in order for school districts to go to a 4-day school week and we have not seen any news articles that such a movement is likely. However, the Legislature will convene in mid-May and they could take up this issue. You can follow what happens in the Legislature regarding education at the following Website: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/legislative/index?view=legislature
April 1, 2010
I was wondering if the cost involved with the state owned cars/trucks has been considered? I feel there is no reason that these state vehicles are taken home by employees on a daily bases. The gas, wear and tear cost really add up in a short period of time. All other employees have to provide their own transportation and I feel that it would be cost effective for everyone eles to do the same.
Thanks for your email. This issue has been reviewed and we have determined that only a few essential personnel have assigned automobiles for DPS home-to-work use. This issue is under continuous consideration and is determined on a case-by-case basis.
March 29, 2010
I know there are discussions about furloughs verses paycuts. If furloughs are what the district decides, why not schedule the furlough days during the summer where the entire district would be shut down for those two days. Since traditional schools are closed and there is a break for year round schools, this could have an added benefit of saving operational costs for the district in terms of building maintenenace, utilities, etc. While furloughs would have to be taken by others not on a twelve month calendar, this could still be a big savings for the district. In fact, it should be possible to take a longer furlough during this time, thereby saving the district even more money while impacting the district at a minimum. Another cost savings could be realized by not having buses travel back to Hamlin during the day, but staying at their school once students arrive. While it may not be practical to leave busses at schools overnight this could be a good compromise. Only move buses back to Hamlin if they need maintenance or need other work.
Thanks for your email. If the furlough option is selected, we certainly will take into consideration your suggestions. Regarding transportation, buses return to one of the bus regions, not to Hamlin Road during the day since bus drivers are not based at schools. One of the regions is housed at Hamlin but there are others spread throughout the county in order to be as efficient as possible. Buses have to be fueled, 30-day inspections have to be done along with routine and preventive maintenance, so basing buses at the schools would likely increase the number of transportation workers needed to perform all these duties.
Why are we trying to rectify the budget be eliminating employees pay and some positions when we still have other options that have not been looked at? There are schools within schools that have two or more sets of principles and office staff and equipment that could be down sized to one school again and would save a highly paid principles position and the extra office staff that is needed to support him. We also have buildings that we rent in several places with small amounts of students in them that could be merged back into other schools again and save the money that it takes to run them.
Thanks for your email. We are looking at all positions and programs as we seek to find some $20 million in cuts. The current budget reduction plan does call for consolidating some schools/central service locations. The budget options being considered by the Board are online at www.dpsnc.net We certainly will take your suggestions into consideration.
March 25, 2010
Will the transportation department(school buses) be apart of the budget cuts for the 2010-2011 school? What kind of plans are being made to cut back cost from the transportation department besides buses or bus drivers?
Like all areas and departments, all aspects of transportation are being reviewed. Routes and stops are always under review for efficiency. Central staffing efficiencies and reductions in the parts and supply budget are under review as well,with the caveat that safety absolutely cannot be compromised.
March 23, 2010
Can a closer look be taken at the opt-out option? Little River has children being bussed from as far away as South Point. Students that are granted a transfer have to provide their own transportation. The same should apply to opt-out students. Wouldn’t money be saved by keeping children in the schools that they are zoned for? There can always be the option of transferring so long as there is space available and they provide the transportation. This could save money in gas and maintenance for buses as well as help with overcrowding issues in the schools. Also, many buses have very few children on them. Can routes be consolidated so fewer busses need to run?
Thank you for the question you submitted. In efforts to respond, I want to clarify the transfer options as they apply in Durham Public Schools. General transfers are those transfer requests from parents who would like for their child to attend another DPS school, not in their attendance zone. This transfer process requires parents to apply in the Office of Student Assignment for transfer approval, the school requested transfer must have adequate space, and parents are required to provide transportation to and from the “transfer” school.
The other option, I believe from what you stated in your email; “opt-out” is a federally mandated option for transfer required by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) for Title I schools who do not meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years or more. Parents are provided the option to transfer out of a school that is not making AYP to a school currently making AYP and are required to be transported.
Schools are selected based on several variables which limit the schools available to the district for the “opt-out” options. We must make sure the receiving school has made AYP, is not a magnet and has some availability to accept students based upon school space. The district must offer at least two options for parents to chose to “opt-out” and utilize Title I funds to pay for the transportation to and from the “opt-out” school while the child’s home school does not make AYP. These funds are a required set-aside of the Title I grant to support the NCLB requirement. As more schools meet the AYP standards other school options will be available to the district. This will allow “opt-out selections to be made based upon a geographic region.
At this time to conserve cost, the transportation department makes every effort to effectively utilize buses. This department takes into consideration the cost of mileage, the length of the route, and the amount of time for a child on the bus. Once the home school meets AYP standards for two years in a row, transportation is no longer provided. However, parents may remain at the transferred school, just like a general transfer and must provide their own transportation.
March 19, 2010
Has the district thought of installing devices that will turn off lights in areas of the school where there is no traffic? This will save money in utility cost.
There are a number of schools, specifically those built since the early 90’s, that have some occupancy sensors in classrooms and other areas. In 2009, two contracts were awarded to Trane and Ameresco under the Performance Contracting Program. These contracts included 65 projects specifically targeted to reduce our energy consumption at 13 schools. The total program costs of $9,774,516 will be paid for from the savings from these projects over the next 20 years. Installing occupancy sensors in hallway, common areas, restrooms, and other locations at six of the schools is a large part of the program. Similar efforts have been included in the construction of all of our new schools.
There have also been initiatives to install occupancy sensors in other locations; however, the payback is typically 8 to 12 years. With our operational dollars being as limited as they are, it is difficult to divert these funds from our more immediate needs.
Hardware & software resources can be significant expenses, especially with training & deployment. How does DPS ensure that each technology purchase is appropriate, cost-effective & will have a useful life-span that justifies the associated cost? For example RIO & DEPOT, multiple reading programs.
With the elimination of state software funds, DPS is undergoing a thorough review of all software with the goal of cutting as many software packages as possible. All technology purchases must be approved by the IT division.
