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Schools look for another $2.8 million in cuts

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Staff

By Beth Mechum
Staff Writer

With the final version of the state budget signed into law last week, officials with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system are studying how to cut an additional $2.8 million. The school board meets tonight to discuss the details of a tentative plan outlined last week by schools Superintendent Neil Pedersen.

Pedersen said he was well aware that a reduction was coming, so the school system planned for it the best it could.

“We were well positioned to make the necessary reductions,” Pedersen said. “Overall, that will be a reduction of about 33 additional classroom teachers, and for the most part that will not require layoffs of teachers. That can be handled through normal attrition.”

“Once the school year starts, if challenges are presented, the local schools will make adjustments accordingly,” board member Annetta Streater said. “Students and teachers have been preparing for this for a while, so I think they will be able to make a reasonable adjustment.”

Streater said the board had already discussed a plan for further budget cuts, so she expects there won’t be much new to report after the meeting, though that doesn’t mean it will all be easy.

“I would say that the biggest change we’ll have to deal with is improving students’ accountability and how to still be able to provide those services without the funding,” Streater said.

Pedersen’s plans for the additional cuts include:

Discretionary Reduction: $1,803,275

In planning for the 2009-10 school year, allotments were based on class sizes that are two students larger than last year’s in grades 4 through 12, which generated a savings of approximately 30 teaching positions, which is equivalent to the discretionary reduction.

Most of the 40 teacher assistants who were unsure of whether they’d be cut will be back.

School technology: $72,127

Pedersen expects additional state technology funds should more than account for this reduction, including money from IDEA funding for special-education students.

Textbooks: $386,488

New math textbooks will not be adopted this year.

Improving student accountability: $194, 448

Last year, these funds were used to help underachieving students and facilitate staff development, but this money can also come from the disadvantaged-student supplemental funds. The school system also saved about $200,000 in at-risk funds by shortening summer school by four days this year.

Transportation: $45,388

The director of transportation is working on making existing bus routes more efficient. There is normally a surplus in this account from field-trip charges. After-school transportation should not be affected.

Limited English Proficient Students: $29,772

This reduction might need to be restored with local funds.

Staff Development: $89,383

All state staff-development funds have been eliminated. It’s recommended that some funds be kept in reserve at the district office to support professional-development opportunities. Also, Title I schools receive additional funds.

Mentor Posistions: $15,321

It’s expected that Title II funds can be used to support mentoring.

Non-Instructional Support: $80,333

This category includes custodians, office personnel and substitutes. There are already two custodial vacancies, which will continue to stay vacant.

Central Office: $123,858

Because of local budget reductions, the central office had already cut $750,000. The board is unsure how they will accommodate the additional cuts.

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