A school board has two main priorities- ensure the school district is fiscally sound and protect the integrity of the classroom-where all teaching and learning take place. Without these, no vision of excellence can be fulfilled.
In Orange County, of every dollar, 80 cents is spent on teaching, transporting, supervising and counseling students, 12 cents on school facilities, 5 cents on library materials, staff training and curriculum development, and 3 cents on central and fiscal services, general administration and technology. Florida's Department of Education deemed Orange County Public Schools the 7th most efficient of all 67 districts, and the most efficient of large urban districts.
The cost-saving move to flip start times came out of the process to cut $70 million from the operational budget, due to state revenue shortfalls. Schools cut their budgets by 6%, departments by 7%. Hundreds of teaching positions were eliminated. A majority of board members voted for the flip. As one in the majority, I believed alternatives to the flip could involve more teacher cuts or fiscal imprudence, such as using contingency reserves for a recurring expense, such as transportation.
Recently, all public agencies were directed by Governor Crist to hold back another 4%. Ramifications of Proposition One have not yet been felt. It is predicted to siphon another $93 million out of public schools. Dramatic fuel and utility cost increases will continue. (The state funds just over 40% of school bus transportation costs for Orange County Public Schools.)
Decisions, whether majority or unanimous, are official decisions. The Superintendent, like a CEO, takes action based on official decisions. It is being carried out in a positive and productive manner. It has refreshed community partnerships and created an atmosphere of innovation and ingenuity.
To add more uncertainty, several proposed constitutional amendments are coming to the voters this November from the Tax and Budget Reform Commission, an appointed state board.
Amendment 7 seeks to strike Florida's Blaine Amendment, which forbids direct public funding of educational institutions with religious affiliation. This is a back door to vouchers. It is being challenged in the courts.
Amendment 9 would require 65% of funding to be spent directly on classroom instruction (leaving it up to the legislature to define it) and reverses prohibition of public funding of private school alternatives, i.e. vouchers, etc. This is also being challenged in the courts.
Amendment 5 alarms chief financial officers, superintendents and school boards the most. It would dismantle and destabilize public school financing by eliminating local property tax for schools and requiring the legislature to replace it with some combination of sales tax increase, elimination of sales tax exemptions, more cuts and/or other revenues.
Go to www.votesmartflorida.org for more information and www.myflorida.com to register concerns with the Governor and state legislators about adequate, stable funding for public schools.
It is going to be increasingly difficult to protect the integrity of the classroom. We need the community to accept these harsh realities and work with us as we strive to fulfill this fundamental responsibility.
School board candidates, and my successor, must become fully informed about these realities and Amendments 5, 7 and 9. The financial health and integrity of Orange County's classrooms will depend on sober, rational and courageous leadership.
8 months ago