The final reductions total $21.9 million

Contact: Haley Miller (336) 370-3200
Created: 9/9/2009 1:07:24 PM

The Guilford County Board of Education adopted an operating budget Tuesday for the 2009-10 school year totaling $590,685,328.

The budget reflects a total of $21.9 million in reductions, with $11.84 million coming from schools and $10.03 million coming from administrative support services. As a result, the percentage of funding going directly to schools in Guilford County Schools (GCS) increased from approximately 79 percent in 2008-09 to 81 percent in 2009-10, while the percentage of funding going to administrative support services decreased from slightly more than 21 percent in 2008-09 to 19 percent in 2009-10.

In the spring, staff identified $36 million in potential cuts. Since total reductions for the district were about $14.1 million less than originally anticipated, board members have considered and approved items to keep in the final budget over the last several board meetings, allocating all but $4.9 million of the surplus $36 million. At the meeting Tuesday, the remaining $4.9 million was allocated.

The budget includes the restoration of the remaining weighted student formula dollars to schools (about $5.8 million) and the addition of $2.1 million to balance class sizes and deal with other school-based needs. The budget also restores $500,000 in funding for maintenance and $333,997 in support for curriculum and instruction initiatives.

In addition, the board approved holding $3 million in reserve in order to manage potential state budget shortfalls that could occur later in the school year. The budget also reinstates approximately 13 central office positions.

"I appreciate the community's support during this year's difficult budget process," said Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green. "Now that we have an operating budget, we can move the district forward and continue to help our students achieve educational excellence."