Keeping up with all the moving pieces in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools budget is always a challenge -- a cut here, an addition there, a line item moved from one department to the other. Here are some nuggets from the 290-page budget book handed out last week.
The $1.2 billion budget would be an all-time high, even with $30 million in temporary federal aid drying up. If the county gives CMS $27.5 million more -- and that's a big if -- the projected total from federal, state, local and other sources would be $26.5 million over the current year. However, because enrollment keeps growing, the per-pupil total of $8,541 would still be below the pre-recession high of $8,912 in 2008-09. Per-pupil county spending would be $2,542, below the high of $2,621.
Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh's plan would increase employment by 157 jobs -- but the listed total of 16,949 is a head-scratcher, given that CMS has more than 18,000 now. Chief Financial Officer Sheila Shirley says that's because the budget book doesn't tally cafeteria and after-school staff, whose pay comes from fees and the federal lunch-subsidy program.
The biggest net gains would be 45 more teachers, 42 more assistants and 30 more bus drivers. A good bit of that comes from the state, because of the additional 2,000 students expected next year. However, CMS is eliminating 140 jobs for teachers who were hired on one-year contracts, so if the county money to add 62 high school teachers doesn't materialize there could be a net loss of classroom teachers. Shirley says the plan is to have almost 7,500 classroom teachers next year. If you're used to hearing a higher number, there will be almost 9,650 people in "teacher-level positions," including facilitators, counselors and librarians.
See what I mean about a lot of moving pieces?
Showing posts with label CMS budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMS budget. Show all posts
Monday, March 19, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The tech-money shuffle
How did Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools end up with $10 million in county money to spend on iPads and other technology improvements this year? The budget maneuver was so complex that even board members who voted for it in July were asking questions, and Chief Financial Officer Sheila Shirley created a flow chart to explain it (read it on page 5 of this budget presentation).
Here's how it worked: Last spring, as then-Superintendent Peter Gorman and the board were planning the 2011-12 budget, CMS planned to pay for clerical and custodial jobs with a mix of county money and temporary federal aid. But when the state budget approved in June was better than CMS had anticipated, there was money to cover the county share and free up $28 million (commissioners had just granted CMS a $26 million bump).
CMS didn't use that money to hire more staff because officials realized the federal money that was paying for secretaries and custodians would disappear in 2012-13, Shirley said this week. Instead, CMS tapped that money for one-time projects in 2011-12, including technology, maintenance projects that had been put off and the cost of moving several administrative offices. In 2012-13, the county money will go back into the budget for clerical and custodial staff.
None of that got much attention at the time, given the hullabaloo over averting teacher layoffs and saving prekindergarten classrooms. Gorman and his staff had spent months talking about laying off hundreds of teachers and other employees to prepare for an anticipated $100 million in cuts. When the board voted 8-1 for the final 2011-12 budget in July (only Kaye McGarry opposed it), the minutes show their comments focused on their delight at being able to restore 1,665 jobs for teachers and other school staff.
The technology money got new attention last week, when CMS invited teams of teachers to make proposals to get "innovation kits" that include one iPad per teacher and up to 10 per classroom.
CMS initially said there was about $10 million in county money for that project, including training and "infrastructure upgrades." Tuesday night, Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh said the actual breakdown is $3.5 million for devices such as iPads, $500,000 for training to help teachers use the new technology and $6.6 million to install wireless internet in all schools.
The $1.2 million CMS spent to give iPads and software to principals and other school administrators didn't come from that $10 million pot, but from money carried over from the previous budget year, Shirley said.
Here's how it worked: Last spring, as then-Superintendent Peter Gorman and the board were planning the 2011-12 budget, CMS planned to pay for clerical and custodial jobs with a mix of county money and temporary federal aid. But when the state budget approved in June was better than CMS had anticipated, there was money to cover the county share and free up $28 million (commissioners had just granted CMS a $26 million bump).
CMS didn't use that money to hire more staff because officials realized the federal money that was paying for secretaries and custodians would disappear in 2012-13, Shirley said this week. Instead, CMS tapped that money for one-time projects in 2011-12, including technology, maintenance projects that had been put off and the cost of moving several administrative offices. In 2012-13, the county money will go back into the budget for clerical and custodial staff.
None of that got much attention at the time, given the hullabaloo over averting teacher layoffs and saving prekindergarten classrooms. Gorman and his staff had spent months talking about laying off hundreds of teachers and other employees to prepare for an anticipated $100 million in cuts. When the board voted 8-1 for the final 2011-12 budget in July (only Kaye McGarry opposed it), the minutes show their comments focused on their delight at being able to restore 1,665 jobs for teachers and other school staff.
The technology money got new attention last week, when CMS invited teams of teachers to make proposals to get "innovation kits" that include one iPad per teacher and up to 10 per classroom.
CMS initially said there was about $10 million in county money for that project, including training and "infrastructure upgrades." Tuesday night, Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh said the actual breakdown is $3.5 million for devices such as iPads, $500,000 for training to help teachers use the new technology and $6.6 million to install wireless internet in all schools.
The $1.2 million CMS spent to give iPads and software to principals and other school administrators didn't come from that $10 million pot, but from money carried over from the previous budget year, Shirley said.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wake schools seek $8.8 million bump
Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata pitched a budget seeking an $8.8 million increase in county spending for 2012-13, a much smaller hike than CMS' Hugh Hattabaugh is expected to present next week.
The plan presented to the Wake school board Tuesday calls for $323.2 million from the county (read the full Wake budget proposal here). Hattabaugh's preliminary plan, presented Feb. 28, would ask Mecklenburg commissioners for $355.8 million, $27.5 million more than CMS got this year. Hattabaugh will make his formal recommendation next Tuesday.
Tata is seeking a 1 percent raise for teachers and a $500 bonus for other staff, while Hattabaugh is talking about 3 percent across-the-board raises.
Wake is the state's largest district, with more than 146,000 K-12 students this year. It expects to top 150,000 next year. CMS has about 138,000 K-12 students, plus about 3,000 prekindergarteners, and expects to add about 2,000 in 2012-13.
According to the CMS presentation, it would have taken even more to cover rising costs, enrollment growth and some new spending, but the district found just over $16 million in "reductions and redirections" that freed up county money. The largest chunk of that, $3.9 million, came from adjusting the average salaries used for the 2012-13 budget to match current reality.
That item raised some questions, especially given the buzz that CMS has been trying to replace expensive veteran educators with younger, cheaper ones. Hattabaugh, the interim superintendent, and Chief Financial Officer Sheila Shirley said the downward trend does indicate lower-paid faculty are replacing some higher-paid ones (though it doesn't prove that's being done intentionally). Shirley notes that the reduction comes to less than half a percent of the CMS payroll, and that she's heard the state averages are trending down as well.
The most controversial salaries, those for top administrators, will likely take shape after the board approves a budget plan in April. Six years ago, Peter Gorman inherited a 2006-07 budget done by an interim leader. During that year he added several highly-paid administrative posts. The current board plans to pick a new superintendent in May; we'll see what happens when the newcomer takes office.
The plan presented to the Wake school board Tuesday calls for $323.2 million from the county (read the full Wake budget proposal here). Hattabaugh's preliminary plan, presented Feb. 28, would ask Mecklenburg commissioners for $355.8 million, $27.5 million more than CMS got this year. Hattabaugh will make his formal recommendation next Tuesday.
Tata is seeking a 1 percent raise for teachers and a $500 bonus for other staff, while Hattabaugh is talking about 3 percent across-the-board raises.
Wake is the state's largest district, with more than 146,000 K-12 students this year. It expects to top 150,000 next year. CMS has about 138,000 K-12 students, plus about 3,000 prekindergarteners, and expects to add about 2,000 in 2012-13.
According to the CMS presentation, it would have taken even more to cover rising costs, enrollment growth and some new spending, but the district found just over $16 million in "reductions and redirections" that freed up county money. The largest chunk of that, $3.9 million, came from adjusting the average salaries used for the 2012-13 budget to match current reality.
That item raised some questions, especially given the buzz that CMS has been trying to replace expensive veteran educators with younger, cheaper ones. Hattabaugh, the interim superintendent, and Chief Financial Officer Sheila Shirley said the downward trend does indicate lower-paid faculty are replacing some higher-paid ones (though it doesn't prove that's being done intentionally). Shirley notes that the reduction comes to less than half a percent of the CMS payroll, and that she's heard the state averages are trending down as well.
The most controversial salaries, those for top administrators, will likely take shape after the board approves a budget plan in April. Six years ago, Peter Gorman inherited a 2006-07 budget done by an interim leader. During that year he added several highly-paid administrative posts. The current board plans to pick a new superintendent in May; we'll see what happens when the newcomer takes office.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
CMS budget cuts, shifts and adds
The early version of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' budget for next year has plenty of moving pieces, as always.
The 3 percent raises interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh proposed earlier remain. But instead of the $25 million to $30 million he said he's need from Mecklenburg County commissioners, he's seeking $18.6 million for a 2 percent bump, with the remaining 1 percent coming from $7.5 million he can "redirect" from other parts of the budget.
Rising costs for 2,000 more CMS students and about 1,000 more Mecklenburg charter students (CMS must pass county money to those independent public schools) would bump the budget up by $13.1 million even without the raises, the plan indicates. Hattabaugh and Chief Financial Officer Sheila Shirley also presented $4.7 million for new efforts. An earlier $1 million plan to expand Communities In Schools was scaled back to $100,000; CMS officials said the nonprofit dropout-prevention group will ask county commissioners to directly fund the expansion, rather than having the money go through CMS.
Some of the cuts and shuffles include a $1.3 million reduction in central offices that eliminates 12 jobs and a $3.9 million reduction that Shirley said came from reducing the salary averages used in budgeting to match actual salaries. Almost $3 million is freed up because a federal performance-pay pilot program expires next year; this year CMS had to use $2.9 million in county money to match the federal grant.
Some teacher jobs will be eliminated, but Hattabaugh said they're either one-year contracts or people who can almost certainly find jobs elsewhere. That means no layoffs looming, for the first spring since 2008.
Hattabaugh noted that other districts may be going through layoff trauma this year as federal stimulus money runs out. He said CMS avoided that by spending most of the money on one-time improvements, such as adding wireless internet access and fixing up schools, rather than paying for jobs that would disappear when the short-term aid went away.
Hattabaugh may still revise the plan before it's formally presented March 13. And board members can still make their own proposals. One that's sure to be closely watched: Hattabaugh is sticking with the four-tier "bell schedule" that saves money on busing but has left some families frustrated by late start and dismissal times. Board members could override him, but they'd have to find a way to offset about $600,000 in transportation savings.
The 3 percent raises interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh proposed earlier remain. But instead of the $25 million to $30 million he said he's need from Mecklenburg County commissioners, he's seeking $18.6 million for a 2 percent bump, with the remaining 1 percent coming from $7.5 million he can "redirect" from other parts of the budget.
Rising costs for 2,000 more CMS students and about 1,000 more Mecklenburg charter students (CMS must pass county money to those independent public schools) would bump the budget up by $13.1 million even without the raises, the plan indicates. Hattabaugh and Chief Financial Officer Sheila Shirley also presented $4.7 million for new efforts. An earlier $1 million plan to expand Communities In Schools was scaled back to $100,000; CMS officials said the nonprofit dropout-prevention group will ask county commissioners to directly fund the expansion, rather than having the money go through CMS.
Some of the cuts and shuffles include a $1.3 million reduction in central offices that eliminates 12 jobs and a $3.9 million reduction that Shirley said came from reducing the salary averages used in budgeting to match actual salaries. Almost $3 million is freed up because a federal performance-pay pilot program expires next year; this year CMS had to use $2.9 million in county money to match the federal grant.
Some teacher jobs will be eliminated, but Hattabaugh said they're either one-year contracts or people who can almost certainly find jobs elsewhere. That means no layoffs looming, for the first spring since 2008.
Hattabaugh noted that other districts may be going through layoff trauma this year as federal stimulus money runs out. He said CMS avoided that by spending most of the money on one-time improvements, such as adding wireless internet access and fixing up schools, rather than paying for jobs that would disappear when the short-term aid went away.
Hattabaugh may still revise the plan before it's formally presented March 13. And board members can still make their own proposals. One that's sure to be closely watched: Hattabaugh is sticking with the four-tier "bell schedule" that saves money on busing but has left some families frustrated by late start and dismissal times. Board members could override him, but they'd have to find a way to offset about $600,000 in transportation savings.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
More about CMS raises
Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh says he'll pitch about half a dozen more "asks," or increased spending that requires extra county money, to the school board in the coming weeks. But the $25 million to $30 million he's seeking to give all employees a 3 percent raise is by far the big-ticket item.
Mecklenburg County commissioners' Chair Harold Cogdell said Wednesday it's too early to comment on the likelihood of CMS getting that sum. It's big, he said, but he understands the need.
The county, which has about 4,200 people on its payroll, budgeted $10 million in the current year to give merit raises averaging 3 percent, Cogdell said.
CMS, which employs about 18,000, hasn't had money for widespread raises since 2008-09 (individuals who changed duties or took part in merit-pay pilots have gotten bumps). Hattabaugh and his staff are trying to convince the community that an across-the-board raise is overdue. See the video created by CMS staff here, and read the CMS budget presentation, which includes the case for raises starting on page 36, here.
Before the recession, CMS followed the lead of state legislators, who cover a big chunk of the CMS payroll. If the state gave, say , a 3 percent raise to teachers and others who are state employees, CMS would match that for county-paid workers.
But with no money for raises in the state's 2012-13 plan (approved last year as part of a two-year budget), CMS hopes county commissioners will agree to pick up the part that would normally come from the state -- about 71 percent of the $25 million-plus, the CMS budget office calculated Wednesday. And that additional supplement to state-paid workers would become an ongoing annual expense from the county budget.
Cogdell says he's keeping an open mind, but he wishes CMS had led with plans for cost savings and creative efficiencies. "When the first thing you do is asking for more," he said, " it does create some level of skepticism."
Mecklenburg County commissioners' Chair Harold Cogdell said Wednesday it's too early to comment on the likelihood of CMS getting that sum. It's big, he said, but he understands the need.
The county, which has about 4,200 people on its payroll, budgeted $10 million in the current year to give merit raises averaging 3 percent, Cogdell said.
CMS, which employs about 18,000, hasn't had money for widespread raises since 2008-09 (individuals who changed duties or took part in merit-pay pilots have gotten bumps). Hattabaugh and his staff are trying to convince the community that an across-the-board raise is overdue. See the video created by CMS staff here, and read the CMS budget presentation, which includes the case for raises starting on page 36, here.
Before the recession, CMS followed the lead of state legislators, who cover a big chunk of the CMS payroll. If the state gave, say , a 3 percent raise to teachers and others who are state employees, CMS would match that for county-paid workers.
But with no money for raises in the state's 2012-13 plan (approved last year as part of a two-year budget), CMS hopes county commissioners will agree to pick up the part that would normally come from the state -- about 71 percent of the $25 million-plus, the CMS budget office calculated Wednesday. And that additional supplement to state-paid workers would become an ongoing annual expense from the county budget.
Cogdell says he's keeping an open mind, but he wishes CMS had led with plans for cost savings and creative efficiencies. "When the first thing you do is asking for more," he said, " it does create some level of skepticism."
Monday, January 9, 2012
CMS: No budget bombshells yet
It was one year ago that Peter Gorman laid out a plan to cut $100 million from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools budget by eliminating 1,500 jobs. On Tuesday interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh kicks off budget planning for 2012-13, but spokeswoman Kasia Thompson says it won't be that kind of detailed outline.
Last year the board had already spent months discussing school closings and other cost-cutting measures. The unusually early budget proposal came in response to projections that CMS would face a third year of dire cuts -- or, the skeptics might say, in time to mobilize parents and advocates to lobby for more money. In the end, CMS avoided the worst of the cuts and layoffs.
This year brings three new board members who have never done a CMS budget, and Thompson says the plan is to start with a broad-strokes presentation. Hattabaugh has already said he doesn't expect to lay off teachers, though there could be some job cuts in other areas. And he has said he'll unveil a proposal to ask the county for money to give teachers raises.
The 3:30 p.m. meeting at the Government Center is open to the public.
Last year the board had already spent months discussing school closings and other cost-cutting measures. The unusually early budget proposal came in response to projections that CMS would face a third year of dire cuts -- or, the skeptics might say, in time to mobilize parents and advocates to lobby for more money. In the end, CMS avoided the worst of the cuts and layoffs.
This year brings three new board members who have never done a CMS budget, and Thompson says the plan is to start with a broad-strokes presentation. Hattabaugh has already said he doesn't expect to lay off teachers, though there could be some job cuts in other areas. And he has said he'll unveil a proposal to ask the county for money to give teachers raises.
The 3:30 p.m. meeting at the Government Center is open to the public.
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