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House budget would shorten school year
The budget presented Wednesday to the chairs of the state House education subcommittees is not a favorable one for school systems across the state.
Reflecting a worsening revenue picture, the budget recommends a cut of 11.1 percent in educational funding for 2009-10.
The House also recommends shortening the 2009-10 school year by five days and reducing the 20010-11 school year by 10 days. Legislators are contemplating having school districts extend the remaining school days to make up for the hours they would lose.
Other cuts proposed in the budget include: 6,005 classroom teaching positions (a move that would increase class size by two students per grade); 4,663 teacher assistant jobs; 354 instructional support positions; 187 assistant principals; and a 5 percent cut to non-instructional support staff such as secretaries and custodians.
The House proposal would also eliminate literacy coaches in schools, cut the More at Four program by 10 percent and redirect corporate sales tax funds which are currently used to help with school construction.
Pitt County Schools Spokeswoman Heather Mayo said school system leaders are still analyzing what impact the House proposal would have on the district.
You can view the proposals here.
Mayo said there is great concern about the potential loss of instructional time due to shortening the school year.
Mayo said the system is also concerned about the proposal calling for $22 million toward the expansion of some areas such as early college high school, dropout prevention, leadership academy and comprehensive school reform.
“There is no doubt that there is a compelling interest for many of these programs,” Mayo said. “However, given the potential job loss and/or salary reductions that many employees will potentially face next year, we question whether or not this is the appropriate time to make these expansions.”
Mayo said the district was pleased to learn that the elimination of low-wealth supplemental funding for some counties would not affect their system.
Pitt County school officials are scheduled to meet Friday with representatives of the Department of Public Instruction to further discuss the cuts.
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