Entries Tagged 'Schools' ↓

Baldwin County Public School Spokesperson Terry Wilhite said, “We’re already bleeding. This takes it to just unimaginable levels.” As far as dealing with the cuts, Wilhite said, “Its too early to tell how the school board will tackle an additional $7.5 million in proration. Its just uncharted territory.”

Wilhite said the Baldwin County School Board will have to decide whether to ask county or state officials for more money, or make more cuts. But if more cuts are made, Wilhite said, “At this point, when you hear this devastating news, there’s only thing you can do, and that’s cut personnel.”

What Does Another Round Of Proration Mean For My Child?

Two days before the new fiscal year, Gov. Bob Riley on Tuesday declared a 7.5 percent cut to the pending education budget.

Riley announced that across-the-board cuts, also known as proration, will reduce to $5.3 billion from $5.7 billion the state funding budgeted for public schools in fiscal 2009-10.

“With less revenue coming in and the escalating costs of employee health insurance, there’s no way to avoid it,” Riley said in a statement

In Baldwin County, which is in the midst of dealing with a series of deep budget and staffing cuts, the governor’s announcement “only makes the situation worse,” said school system spokesman Terry Wilhite.

The proration means about $7.5 million less for Baldwin schools.

Riley declares 7.5 percent proration for coming year’s education budget

September 29- After the latest round of layoffs, more than 200 workers in the Baldwin County School System will go to work for the last time on Wednesday.

They’ve all had more than a month to prepare but emotions are running high.

Wednesday will be a half day for school children in Baldwin County this so they can attend the county fair which opened this week.

Last Day for Baldwin School Workers

It’s a little like a bad science fiction movie. On Sept. 30, 2009, about 200 employees of the Baldwin County School System will vanish

These are all probationary, non-classified employees,” said John Hudson, the Alabama Education Association Uniserv Director for the district. The AEA represents about 2,500 numbers in the Baldwin County school district and at Faulkner State Community College. nurses, cafeteria workers, teacher aids, P.E. aids. computer aids, mechanics, mechanics, bookkeepers, secretaries, clerks, custodians, grounds workers, and bus drivers will be trimmed.

Layoffs likely to impact students immediately

City and education officials, both facing tight budgets, are trying to find a way to preserve four historic buildings on the campus of Baldwin County’s newest school.

When Foley Middle School opened in August, educators and students no longer needed the old auditorium, office building and library. Education officials asked Foley to take over the buildings and a church on the campus, said Ken Mason, school system construction coordinator.

“The city of Foley was looking at leasing the old auditorium, old library and part of the old administration area,” Mason said. Mason said several other buildings on the campus, such as the newer wings of the old middle school, will be torn down

Fate of historic campus buildings undetermined

AEA representatives distributed flyers to teachers on Monday with the following text:

Please join us at the Robertsdale Park Pavilion to pay tribute to our recently dismissed coworkers and the vital work they performed.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 4:30 PM

All employees are encouraged to wear black to school on this day to show our sense of loss at their departure.

US Holocaust Memorial Museum inscription:

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Protestant Pastor Martin Niemoller

What does the current financial crisis have to do with the Holocaust? According to this comparison, who would be the Nazis in this case? Speak out or they’re coming for you next.

Dear Parent:

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak with you directly about the current financial crisis facing the Baldwin County Public Schools. First and foremost, I want to emphasize that despite the economic challenges that confront us, we have not abandoned our pursuit of educational excellence.

With regard to our funding crisis, we have been forced to cut our general fund budget by more than $75 million from FY 2009 to FY 2010. As a result, at least in the short term, it will be impossible for us to continue to provide the level of service that we have offered in the past. Nevertheless, let me assure you that our administrators, teachers and staff will work tirelessly to serve your needs to the utmost of our ability. However, the harsh reality is that on October 1, we will have 203 fewer support employees than we have today and about 175 of our current employees, who have been performing other needed functions, will be moved into the critical positions left vacant.

Click through to continue reading

SUPT. SENDS FINANCIAL CRISIS LETTER TO PARENTS

After months of spending cuts, shortfalls and layoffs, the Baldwin County Board of Education approved its 2010 fiscal year budget Sept. 10, cutting an additional $1.9 million in the week leading up to the vote in order to meet Alabama’s Sept. 15 deadline

The system’s total budget for 2010 exceeds $267 million, $75 million less than last year’s budget of $342 million. All major categories within the budget took financial hits; instructional services, which makes up 52 percent of the system’s total budget, is $8 million less than in 2009. Instructional support — the next biggest portion of the budget — is almost $5 million less and auxiliary services is $4 million less.

BOE’s 2010 budget thinner than ‘09

Representatives of Baldwin County education foundations are concerned that some school board members may be favoring an internal candidate for the soon-to-be vacated superintendent’s job.

They told the Press-Register that they want the board to conduct a public national search that would attract top candidates from all over.

They said they’re worried that the board may instead meet one night and vote on a candidate to replace Faron Hollinger, who is retiring in June

Wide ’super’ search urged for Baldwin schools

Who are the internal candidate that might be interested and/or capable of taking over?

A group of fed-up parents sent a letter to Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant and the city council, asking them to conduct a feasibility study on breaking away from the Baldwin County Board of Education and forming their own, independent school district. The group says their worried about the county school district’s 56 million dollar budget shortfall.

Baldwin school board member Bob Callahan said Monday that it would be a mistake to compare the situation in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to that in Fairhope.

In recent years, Callahan has encouraged the Fairhope council to create a tax that would be applied to Fairhope schools alone.

Fairhope group wants study on separating city schools from Baldwin County system

Fairhope Independent School District?

We brought this to you last week when it was first posted at The Fairhope Times.

With the budget approved, Baldwin County education officials are working to prepare for changes to take place when the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1.

More than 200 employees laid off in order to balance the budget will work their last day for the school system Sept. 30. Other workers will be transferred into many of those positions, Terry Wilhite, school system spokesman, said Friday.

Another resolution passed by the board Thursday night is expected to reduce the number of teachers. Members voted to approve a retirement incentive package for employees.

In a statement before the meeting, Lester Smith, human resources director, said 48 employees had expressed an interest in the new incentive offer. To receive the money, the workers would have to leave by the end of 2009.

School system prepares for impact of budget cuts

The Alabama Education Association recently hired Gene Murphree, former vice chancellor for fiscal services at the state Department of Post-Secondary Education, on a temporary basis to analyze the impact of equity funding on Baldwin County, officials said.

John Hudson, Baldwin County representative for the union, said he didn’t know when Murphree might complete a report or what will be done with it.

Former state education official hired by AEA to review impact of equity funding on Baldwin County

Yes, this is the same AEA that criticizes the school board for hiring consultants.

What’s the impact? The impact of equity funding is that we send $45 million to other districts while our kids are sitting in overcrowded classrooms and people here are being fired.

Some tough decisions were made Thursday in Baldwin County. School board members passed a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year. In the end jobs were saved, but funding had to be cut from arts programs specifically band.

Funding slashed from Baldwin County arts programs

Baldwin County superintendent reveals system’s budget

The Baldwin County Board of Education voted Thursday night to pass a 2010 budget that is more than $75 million less than the 2009 financial plan.

The board voted 6-0, with member Angie Swiger absent, to approve a total budget of $267.2 million. The budget for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30 is $342.7 million. Losses in state funding and local revenue were the reasons for the difference, Jean McCutchen, system financial officer, told board members.

“We’re back at 2005 levels of funding with 2009-2010 growth,” Hollinger said. “But Mrs. McCutchen and her staff did an outstanding job. This has not been easy and very difficult steps had to be taken.”

Baldwin County schools back to 2005 funding levels

Baldwin County schools approve budget

A Group of residents has asked the Mayor/City Council for $25,000 to fund a study to determine the feasibility of the City forming its own School System. CouncilmanFord: “One was done years ago . . . found out taxes would have to be doubled or tripled.”

Fairhope to Form Its Own School System?

Other news from The Fairhope Times

Committee Votes to Fund Retiree Benefits

Committee Rejects Mayor’s Proposed Pay Raises