Schools project deficit
Charleston shortfall may be $27 million
The Charleston County School District's projected budget for next year might look like a forecast for doom and gloom, but Superintendent Nancy McGinley says she's committed to fortifying schools and continuing their good work.
School officials are projecting a potential $27 million shortfall in its estimated $341.9 million budget for next year.
Want to go?
The Charleston County School District will hold the following public hearings on its proposed budget. All forums are at 6 p.m. A preliminary budget will be presented to the school board on April 14, a first reading will take place on May 26 and a second and final reading will be on June 9.
TONIGHT: St. John's High School, 1518 Main Road, Johns Island.
MARCH 31: Wando High School, 1000 Warrior Way, Mount Pleasant.
APRIL 1: Burke High School, 244 President St., Charleston.
APRIL 2: Baptist Hill High School, 5117 Baptist Hill Road, Hollywood.
APRIL 7: West Ashley High School, 4060 W. Wildcat Blvd., Charleston.
The figures are estimates because lawmakers haven't finished crafting next year's budget. The district's projections are based on a number of assumptions, and those include a higher tax rate for businesses and a drop in enrollment by about 400 students.
Another assumption in estimating the shortfall is that the district will lose $10.4 million in state funding. It's a problem that's faced the district in the past because the state gives less money to districts as their taxpaying ability increases. Over the years, lawmakers have passed one-time provisions to prevent the school district from losing any money. The current version of the budget doesn't include the money, but school board member Arthur Ravenel Jr. said he's been assured by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, that he would take care of the school district.
Roughly $7 million of the $27 million shortfall is made of programs that officials want to maintain, expand or add, such as increasing the number of early childhood education classes, increasing the travel stipend for teachers in rural schools and improving the student-teacher ratio at schools rated unsatisfactory or below average on the state report card.
McGinley said the school district already has analyzed 10 percent of its spending, as mandated by the school board, and factored in some of those savings in the budget.
"None of the decisions we will make will be easy," she said. "We are making difficult decisions about essential services."
She characterized the factors surrounding the budget as creating the "perfect storm."
The state has mandated increases in teachers' pay, the board has limited opportunities to raise taxes, and the federal money allocated to low-income schools, most of which are rated unsatisfactory and below average on the state report card, has been cut.
State money that has gone to unsatisfactory and below average schools also will decrease because more schools are eligible to receive funds from the same pot of money, she said.
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Comments
This article has 8 comment(s)
Posted by Patrick on March 19, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CCSD has way too much overhead!
Posted by bkeelin on March 19, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Democrats on Capitol Hill cutting funding to under performing schools. This is how the democrats work, they promise one thing and deliver nothing except bigger government, higher taxes and nothing to show for it.
Posted by AHLeland on March 19, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to see a break-down of exactly what percentage of the budget is spent where - transportation, cafeteria, teachers' salaries, administration salaries, facilities, sports, etc. I bet it would be pretty telling.
Posted by lcwsc on March 19, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AHLeland, to answer your question: if you look at your property tax bills, there is an percentage breakdown (to the nearest tenth of a percent) of how much money is spent on the school district. It is a shockingly low percentage. In fact, if you look at the Charleston County tax budget overview for last year you will see the the schools do not receive County tax money either. The state pays us less because we are a high revenue county, but we don't use that high revenue to pay for the schools. This is why there is a budget shortfall in the school district right now. No wonder the teachers in Charleston County are some of the lowest paid in the state. Too bad considering that we are the most expensive county to live in.
Posted by AHLeland on March 19, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lcwsc - I wasn't saying anything about the amount of money that goes to the district. I was asking about the way it is allocated within the district. I am not pushing for budget cuts to save the tax-payers money. My stepmother teaches in a Charleston County public school. Yesterday, she had to buy copy paper with her own money because the school was out of paper! I think the problem does not lie with the funding or even the schools themselves so much as the management.
Posted by belovedbliff on March 19, 2008 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, my school has no money for paper either, but we can whatever mystery money for student incentives.
Posted by mlm on March 19, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AHLeland said: "I think the problem does not lie with the funding or even the schools themselves so much as the management."
I fully agree with that statement.
Posted by Pluffmuddy on March 20, 2008 at 1:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is the biggest bunch of BS yet...Show me what you're doing right, and then you can ask for an increase! Why should taxpayers continue to reward failing schools??? In a non-politically-driven situation, non-performers get the axe, NOT a raise. I say it's time to fire incompetent teachers, principals, and staff who don't have what it takes. Further, let funds be indexed to parental involvement, since we all know that the home setting has a tremendous impact on what happens in the classroom, no matter how good a teacher may be.