Statement

Correction/Clarification

Officials will consider eliminating $12.9 million, and that may not be enough.

The district is now recommending reductions that total about $21.6 million.

Those cuts are in addition to the nearly $30 million already approved by the school board that included more than 300 teacher positions, administrative positions and programs.

The district addressed $12.6 million in cuts as part of the superintendent’s recommended budget, which was adopted by the board earlier this spring. GCS must reduce the 2009-10 budget by another $21.6 million.

The latest proposal includes increasing class size by one student.

The process to recommend increasing class size by one was actually communicated earlier in the spring, when workbooks were sent back out to principals.

Increasing class size by one would cut more than $8 million from the budget.

Correct, except this is in addition to the $12.9 million referenced earlier.

Green is also proposing four other transportation cuts, totaling nearly $1.6 million.

Green is recommending:

• Consolidating some bus stops, primarily affecting high school students and some middle school students = $250,000
•  Eliminating 10 stand-by bus driver positions = 300,000
• Shifting lead bus driver positions from 11 to 10 months = $44,000; total = $594,000

Other cuts referenced were discussed but not recommended by staff. However, those cuts are possible if the worst-case scenario ($38-$40 million reduction, approximately) at the state level becomes a reality. Also, district administration wanted to get more direction from the board as the district has to move forward on some items with school opening in August, even though the state budget is still uncertain.

The board will also weigh eliminating the International Baccalaureate program at Smith High School.

The board may weigh this; it is not part of administration’s recommendation at this time.

Administration will only recommend this cut if the worst-case scenario becomes a reality.

Extended days could be stripped from Brooks Global and Johnson Street Global as well.

The board may weigh this; it is not part of administration’s recommendation at this time.

Administration will only recommend this cut if the worst-case scenario becomes a reality.

Routh said she found several places where she thinks the board could cut rather than make all the cuts Green proposed.

Please see clarifications regarding what Green has proposed above.

Even if Green’s proposals are approved, the school system projects it could still face a $2.8 million shortfall

The amount is uncertain. The worst-case scenario could mean cuts of up to $40 million or more. Green’s proposal advocates cutting another $21.6 million now so the district can move forward with preparations for the opening of schools in August. If state budget cuts end up less severe than anticipated, schools would be first in line for the return of any funds. If the state budget cuts end up more severe than anticipated, than some of the additional items in Tier 3 may be on the table – depending in part on any direction given to staff by the board.

Superintendent Green is recommending phasing out the Home Field Advantage program after the 2009-10 school year.

The Home Field Advantage program is being modified not eliminated. Under the modified plan, students would be eligible to stay in the school through the year in which the relocation takes place with transportation provided. Thereafter, they can stay in that school if they provide their own transportation. Otherwise, they would go to the school in their student assignment boundary area. The modification of this program would save GCS about $416,000 annually, primarily in transportation costs.