Despite a somewhat optimistic speech by newly-elected Gov. Nathan Deal, the Newton County School System is still looking at potentially cutting $9 million from its 2011-2012 budget. Superintendent Dr. Gary Mathews has released a list of 13 possible cuts and their potential savings to the school system. "As suggested previously, some of the budget cuts on the attached survey are more palatable than others depending upon one’s viewpoint. We are under no illusions as to the significant human pain associated with these possible budget cuts. And they come at a time when our education system — at all levels — can least afford them," said Mathews in a press release. Total budget reductions since 2008-2009 are approximately $18.3 million, leaving the school system to do more with less for several years now. According to Mathews, when making the list of the 13 possible cuts to the system, there were several that were eliminated, including privatizing both transportation and custodial work, reducing half of elementary art, music and physical education and eliminating the supplemental teachers.
"In the case of privatizing transportation and/or custodial services, we believe we have actually identified greater savings for the school system, and arguably at a greater benefit to our employees, by not privatizing," said Mathews. "As for reducing elementary art, music, and/or physical education, the Executive Leadership Team and I rejected this believing that elementary children are measurably better off academically — and as human beings — through exposure to these finer qualities of human existence, i.e., art, music, and healthy living. To do otherwise would have reduced our elementary schools to ‘factories’ and would have deprived elementary faculties of valuable planning time so critical to our new strategic plan for teaching-for-learning-for-all," he said.
"And, for the sake of the attached survey, we also rejected the reduction or elimination of the "supplemental" teachers in our elementary schools. It is exactly the small-group and individualized instruction that these teachers provide that is so key to progress in the rigorous state and federal accountability systems impacting NCSS," said Mathews.
Some administrative cuts are offered as possibilities and Mathews said he considered more; however, in the last several years there have been many cuts to central office (14) and the office is currently down to less that 20 administrators. With 19,500 students that is a ratio of one central office person for every 1,000 students, according to Mathews.
"Our fervent prayer is for the realization that this budget reduction exercise is a part of a necessary process, one that can be favorably altered by conditions and events primarily out of the school system’s control," said Mathews. "And, while we cannot count on measurable relief for our shrinking revenue sources, we unabashedly pray for such relief for our students’ sake, our staff’s sake, and for our greater community’s sake."
A list of possible major budget reductions has been released by Newton County School Superintendent Dr. Gary Mathews. Here's a summary.
See covnews.com for updates and see Friday’s edition of The Covington News for an in-depth look at the potential budget cuts.
SUMMARY OF POSSIBLE MAJOR BUDGET REDUCTIONS
1. Change high school scheduling to a seven period day to include
remediation/enrichment for students.
Savings = $2,820,000
2. Contract with Ombudsman to provide a new—and potentially more
educationally effective—delivery model for alternative education in NCSS.
Savings = $1,941,962
3. Implement a three-tier student transportation system.
Savings = $1,477,441
4. Eliminate 70 six-hour per day regular education instructional paraprofessional
positions at the elementary schools.
Savings = $1,127,000
5. Reorganize and reduce maintenance and custodial staffs.
Savings = $954,000
6. Reduce the school year by one day for students and reduce employee work days
(non-school days) by one additional day.
Savings = $950,000
7. Change to one of the following school schedules:
Option A. Four day school week (156 school days)
Savings = $820,000
OR
Option B. 158 School days and the day would be lengthened by approximately
42 minutes for elementary and 52 minutes for secondary
Savings = $750,000
OR
Option C. 169 School days and the day would be lengthened by approximately
20 minutes for elementary and 28 minutes for secondary
Savings = $375,000
Note: Each option above has negative salary implications for custodians, bus drivers,
and food service workers, but none for other groups of employees.
8. Eliminate 28 eight-hour per day regular education instructional
paraprofessional positions at the elementary schools.
Savings = $582,400
9. Reduce the 1% Board contribution to the 403b retirement plan for Teachers
Retirement System employees to .5%
Savings = $422,000
10. Eliminate two Assistant Principal positions.
Savings = $215,000
11. Reduce the number of school resource officers (security) from 18 to 14.
Savings = $171,428
12. Require a 10% cut in all Central Office budgets.
Savings = $160,000
13. Combine Newton College and Career Academy CEO and Director of Career,
Technical, and Agriculture Education (CTAE) positions.
Savings = $65,000
