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?
Monday, March 19, 2012
CMS plan: 157 more jobs, 45 of them teachers
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28 comments:
Ann,
I'll say it for you, Smoke and Mirrors or the usual con job.
Didn't a recent blog discuss adding custodians back with monies used for tech this year or otherwise deferred to other uses? Someone has to clean up after all this mess.
What is the rationale behind 30 new bus drivers with a projected 2,000 student increase in enrollment?
Cutting bus routes has been a priority to save money over the past few years.
Does CMS have a crystal ball as to where these 2,000 new students will live and how many will ride a bus? Possibly a current bus route that is already running a bus half empty? Students going to a magnet where drop points are already in place?
Head-scratching, nebulous data. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain".....
Good job on the Collins show who as we all know is a lightweight dolt but you were much more factual and proficient even though admittedly thats not very difficult with him.
You look 10 times better (even in your mid 60s?)on TV but need to stop trying to scare off readers with that outdated dreadful mug.
Thanks for changing pics in advance.
We are finally getting rid of the Jennifer "creature" CC and still working on Rodney "degree-less" PC who is almost as bad.
Gotta beautify the city as you know....
Ann, did you actually receive a hard copy of the budget booklet? I asked for one at the Board meeting last Tuesday, and was told I couldn't have one.
Next, I'm amazed that you asked a question to Ms. Shirley and actually received an "answer." However, wouldn't it be nice if the totals each had a reconciliation back to the grand totals we're used to seeing? That way, everyone would be clear on what CMS is doing. It's this constant number-shuffling and "well, it's really this, if you add back or subtract this" excuses that make people wonder if anyone has a clue.
And for the "62 9th grade teacher positions," let's remember that when Mary McCray pressed Hattabaugh about this, he finally admitted that some principals (given "freedom and flexibility"), may NOT have to use that funding to actually provide a new classroom teacher.
Yes, you read that correctly. Even though the budget presentation has it listed as "High School Class Size Adjustment - 9th grade," these dollars may NOT turn into teacher positions in the classrooms. Per Hattabaugh, a principal may decide to use the money for something else at the school.
Christine as to your 8:03 comment, that is usual educrat MO. That way when outsiders challenge numbers, they easily get out of it because they can come back with "oh, that is a wrong number because it does not include this and that." and you and your concern are dismissed.
Has anyone noticed that there are OVER 200 teaching positions posted for employment on the CMS website. Is anyone reporting "The Exodus" from CMS?
Christine, yes, I got a paper copy the next day (I find that much easier to use than the online version). I suspect if you ask now you can get one. The printer apparently does them in batches, so if one batch gets distributed before the next one comes out you may not be able to get one at that moment.
CMS can try to hire more teachers next year. I say Good Luck to that as most teachers in the system know better. If someone is coming in its usually they are leaving a worse situation. That in these days is going to be real hard to find to come to CMS. We are going to lose more great teachers this summer thats proven. You are also correct in that the principal has authority to either use that money on a 9th grade teacher or a new technology associate. Of course since Murri is gone I am sure we wont need more tech folks since that program will get shelved.
I have always had a standard that if your population of employees was less than 50% teachers, your front line deliverers of your mission, there was something wrong somewhere. As I sit here thumbing through the budget workbook, you have to wonder if any of CMS employees are classroom teachers.
Also, you have to wonder if all the overhead you have to have to supply reports, etc. is worth some or all of the federal money we get.
11:11 - As well dont forget who published those budget numbers your thumbing. A interm Superintendant who had lied in the past. A guy who has a "out" in a few months with a pay back for time served. That same guy who says "no to changing the start times , because we would lose all the money we saved" ? Money saved look in the budget its not found. First they say $5 million dollars will be saved then its $3.4 million. Now its closer to $0- , but who is counting Mr. Morgan? He fully supported this change in school start times due to the $5 million dollars it was "going to save". Now on a dime he stopped and changed direction on how he feels on the topic. That budget is going to change many times prior to being set so dont waste alot of time reading that book of LIES.
Have they eliminated the $84,000/yr physical education teacher job yet?
How about the 5 area superintendents?
Maybe at least some of the PR department that Gorman increased 3 fold?
Your thinking far too clearly have you not had your CMS Kool Aid yet today? Wait until 9:15 tomorrow when middle schoolers start have a glass then wait til they come home at 5:00 ! And tell your self all the while your saving CMS money! That or wait til you turn red in the face .
anon 12:08...you keep harping on those Phys Ed teachers. Please consider that 30 years + National Boards+ advanced college degrees+Athletic directer(11 months) coaching duties(till 11:00pm)+ driver ed stints tends to add up. How else do you expect a college educated man with advanced degrees and numerous years and extra hours of teaching/coaching away from his family to raise a family? Just sayin!He (they) work over 70 hours a week. NOW go figure that one oout math
CMS plan:157 more jobs, 45 of them teachers??? They have over 200 teaching positions posted today that they can't fill. They have classrooms with no teachers in them right now!! (subs and fillers don't count)Most of the schools are those "hard to staff" oops..er I mean...what do I mean...
What does CMS mean
Hard to staff? While there are some high poverty schools and some titles, Strategic Staff Initiative, would lead to that understanding, go to the column head System/School, click on it to sort by school and you will see there are a lot of jobs posted in non such schools.
I think the interesting part is you get to this listing by clicking "Career Opportunities" however there is a good chance these are only end of year jobs. Double check when applying if they are really "career" jobs or end of year. I looked at a couple and you could not tell.
Check out the Project LIFT jobs! Sort by system/school column heading and look at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools like it is a school entry.
They make the pitch for the program for the students but fail to make any big pitches for the teachers themselves other than the retainer if they choose. I wonder what the small print is for it?
202 more unfilled jobs is code for next year's play money slush fund. What ever they plan to blame on Hugh as the guy who left, should rest on Shirley's shoulders. She calculates every move to the penny and may be an excellent chess player. Creative finance is an art form in keeping people out of prison.
I feel for the quality A.D.'s
Most I know are lazy and dont know how to teach. This is good because they only have to teach one or two classes per day.Athletics should be privitized anyway.
Most of those new positions will not be classroom positions. Flexibility to trade positions will come into play.T hese crazy principals will simply hire their sorority sisters for "admin" or other positions, taking another spot away from a classroom teacher. Larger class sizes, here we come!!
Ann, Can you compare your info to the WRAL report on Pending Cuts:Specifics for Each NC School System, please?
http://www.wral.com/news/education/page/10862192/
In a year, school has gone from wonderful to miserable for my kids. One of my kids' classrooms doubled in size. There is simply not enough supervision in the halls, the lunchrooms, or on the playgrounds. The teachers have to use a 30 lunch break as their "planning period" and they commonly pull unbearably long days.
I think the deceptions about cuts are politically motivated, and it is obvious our representatives simply don't value a quality education for all kids, here. They will take from the children (who can't vote yet) to give breaks to businesses, without remembering that it was the quality of life (which means good safe public schools) that draws professionals here to settle in the first place.
I know how they save a lot of money! Cut out the PLAN, ACT and WorkKeys assessments for high school students. Someone at ACT is getting rich off all of these unnessary tests. At $75.00-$85.00 a piece for all 10th, 11th, and
12th graders in CMS--- think of all the teaching jobs this could create. Especially when the students do not want to take these assessments anyway and they just bubble in bubbles or sleep.
The testing by ACT is gone after this year we get those for free from State next year. A Gorman,Morgan,Davis,Lennon,Murri little secret/mistake. Dont let it fool you follow the money to a business that owns part of ACT with ties to Morgans Brother at the Chamber. He gives brother Bobby Morgan a $25,000 check for annual dues and its given back thru the business in Millions. This happens in alot of back room deals within CMS. Now all of a sudden we want to give parents a raise and its the Counties job to do that ? Doubt it !
There is NO PLAN to add teachers to the high schools.Principals will add tech positions or deans, all of which will take a teaching position.
The 200 positions INCLUDE those 120 who are on END OF YEAR contracts--so they have to reapply for their jobs next year with any other candidate. Its just a shuffle, not unfilled positions unless it is in a hard to staff school where teachers quit due to the very extreme behavior of students that wasn't dealt with by administration.
Pay ALL teachers $84,000.+
If not, then allocate it to STEM.
BTW: the listed salaries don't include coaching $.
Why are we still paying for hardcover books? Wouldn't
Kindle (or similar) would be more cost effective?
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