SCHOOL BUDGETS CAN BE CUT-LOOK AT MIAMI/DADE

Since the subject of budget cuts to the Memphis City Schools is so much in the news, I investigated the Miami Dade County School system website and found the following interesting items about school budget cutting in the previous home of our new superintendant. Budget cuts can be made when the laws do not stand in the way.

 

DISTRICT BUDGET UPDATE
Superintendent Rudy Crew Addresses Budget Crisis

June 9, 2008

With a new fiscal year fast approaching and with Florida lawmakers having severely cut funding to our schools, the School Board will meet later this month to finalize more than $284 million in cuts for the 2008-09 school year.

In April, the Board approved a reorganization plan to save the District approximately $13.7 million in recurring annual costs. Last month, the Administration brought forth additional reduction plans, some of which were not approved, including a recommendation that would have saved the District an additional $33.9 million in position cuts, furloughs, and other down-sizing measures.

There are outstanding cuts still to be made, with all options necessarily on the table. As always, the best interest of our students must be and will be our overriding concern.

With nearly three-quarters of the District's $3 billion operating budget going to salaries, a further reduction in the District's workforce is inevitable. Times are tough, here and across the state, and it falls to us in the Administration and on the School Board to make the tough calls. This is hard for all of us, especially those affected by these reductions. Accordingly, we are recommending a plan to help ease the transition for affected employees, including job-placement assistance inside and outside the School District.

The Board will discuss the budget at a workshop on June 12, 2008, at 10 a.m., and its monthly meeting, June 18, 2008, at 1 p.m.


M-DCPS BRIEFINGS:
Statewide Cuts Lead to Reduction in Force and Other Budget Updates, (5/14/08)
Superintendent addresses Florida lawmakers' huge cuts to education funding, (5/6/08)
School Board Considers More Than $284 million in Cuts to 2008-09 Budget, (5/2/08)
Superintendent Recommends Reorganization and Restructuring, (4/15/08)
Board Chair Offers FL Legislature Cost Neutral Plan and Other Budget Updates, (3/26/08)
Education Policy Brief: K-12 Funding Update, (3/26/08)
Funding Cuts Impact M-DCPS Employees and Services to Students, (3/7/08)
District Faces Budget Cuts, (2/28/08)
Reductions to Salary Expenses Anticipated, (2/15/08)
Tough Times, Tough Calls, (2/1/08)


RELATED RESOURCES:
Budget Workshop Presentation, (6/12/08)
A–3 Presentation to the Board, (5/21/08)
Budget Workshop Focus on FY 2008-2009, (5/13/08)
Process for Repurposing Schools Workshop, (5/13/08)
Budget Workshop Focus on FY 2008-2009, (4/28/08)
Tentative Budget Cuts 2008-09
Dollars & Sense Presentation
State Revenue Reductions 2007-08
Budget Presentation
Five-Year Capital Plan


RECENT ARTICLES:
Florida schools fear gains may vanish, The Ledger (4/13/08)
Tax changes fuel fears of funding loss, TradingMarkets.com (3/30/08)
Tax-cut proposal leaves big questions, The Miami Herald (3/19/08)
Florida agencies face deep cuts across board, The Miami Herald (3/16/08)
School, court funds slashed,
The Miami Herald (3/06/08)
Schools need more cash for state goals, The Miami Herald (2/28/08)
Schools to take another hit from state, The Miami Herald (2/27/08)