Superintendent’s Budget Request

Superintendent’s FY08 Budget Request Supports a Number of Critical Priorities

As we move into Fiscal Year 2007-08 (FY08), the Guilford County Schools (GCS) leadership and community is keenly aware of the continuing financial challenges we face, but optimistic about the potential to make another modest fiscal step forward.  These have continued to be challenging financial times, with the district sustaining a more than $6.5M reduction in state funding over the past three years while growing by approximately 1,700 students per year – FY08 projects a student growth of 1,833 students.  Yet, we have collectively focused our limited resources to most effectively support our instructional priorities.  This budget totals $603,134,624.  Click here to download the complete budget request.

As part of our process and to encourage a productive dialogue within our community, we would like to receive feedback from interested individuals.

Input on this item may be made to gcscomments@gcsnc.com or via courier, or U.S. mail to the District Relations Office, Guilford County Schools, 712 North Eugene Street; Greensboro, NC 27401.

What this Budget Accomplishes

The proposed GCS FY08 budget contains a request of $5,547,761 to cover the cost of state mandated salary increases and employee benefits, $1,414,950 to lease modular units during the construction of Eastern High School, $3,998,103 to cover cost associated with the addition of 1,833 students, and $3,507,681 in re-directed dollars and $4,697,393 in new funding request to support critical priorities that are aligned with the district’s four thematic goals.  These requests will allow us to:

• Implement a weighted student formula for equitable school allocations
• Fund a state mandated salary increase of 5% for teachers, assistant principals, and principals and a 2.5% increase for classified staff
• Implement a district-wide K-5 literacy program as result of the McRel Literacy Audit
• Enhance execution of a district-wide K-5 math initiative
• Expand the district’s elementary foreign language program; including a Mandarin Chinese Program at Northwood Elementary, Ferndale Middle, High Point Central High SchoolandNorthwest High School to provide students a competitive edge to compete in the global economy
• Implement a GCS Newcomer Center to create a supportive and comprehensive learning environment for newly arrived 5th – 12th grade immigrant students to enhance their academic and social outcomes
• Increase resources for the Home Field Advantage student mobility program to meet the increased needs of participating schools
• Implement a comprehensive program to improve school climate while decreasing student suspensions
• Improve certified and classified employee working conditions by implementing many of the strategies brought forth by diverse employee teams
• Increase maintenance and energy costs associated with new or renovated school facilities
• Fund the performance incentive portion of Mission Possible

In FY08 many of our training costs will be supported by federal, grant and private funding sources. Therefore, the proposed FY08 budget request also features areas of importance that have been funded by redirecting $3.5M from the district’s existing, locally funded, staff development budget.  These items include:

• Athletic shuttle service for Northern High School students who will move into the new facility January of 2008
• State mandated salary reclassifications for the district’s occupational and physical therapist
• Student academic competitions
• Improved funding for the district’s Advanced Learner, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs to provide resources for an increasing number of participating students
• Twenty additional middle school math and language arts teachers to better support the district’s goal to close achievement gaps at the middle school level
• Resources needed to reconstitute Washington and Wiley Elementary Schools and Ferndale Middle School should they not meet Adequate Yearly Progress measures for the fifth consecutive year as prescribed by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation

Guiding Principles

In the development of the proposed GCS FY08 budget, we have once again attempted to emulate best practices that are grounded in the following guiding principles:

• Equitable, rational and transparent distribution of limited resources among schools
• Integration of lessons learned from last year's budget process
• Standard and public criteria for budget allocations, recognizing differences in school size, level, programmatic and special needs
• A single final enrollment projection on which budgets are based
• A single budget allocation which is not expected to be reduced later in the process
• A single staffing process completed by the end of the school year
• An all-funds approach to budgeting
• Use of the budget development process as a management tool to promote efficiency, creativity and continuous improvement