Raises, race and other budget answers

Yesterday I noted some questions I'd be asking going into the budget.  As anticipated,  technology and choice were so central to Superintendent Heath Morrison's plan that there's not a lot to add  (read the CMS presentation here and my budget story here).  Here's more on the other themes:

Raises:  Morrison's plan reflects the 1 percent hike in Gov. Pat McCrory's plan.  That would require coming up with $2.2 million in county money to ensure that 1 percent extends to county-paid staff.  If CMS can persuade legislators to go higher,  Morrison assured the public and the board he'll find money to increase the county match.  For instance,  if the state approves a 3 percent raise,  CMS will need a total of $6.6 million in county money.

Morrison

On the other hand, Morrison warned that it's possible the General Assembly could end up granting state employees no raise.  He said if that happens,  he's committed to ensuring all CMS employees get at least 1 percent -- which would require $7.9 million from the county.

Many school board members were still underwhelmed by 1 percent --  as I'm guessing a lot of CMS employees are.  Morrison told them it wouldn't have been realistic to ask county commissioners to commit to covering a 3 percent raise,  even if that meant assuming the state's responsibility.  "If we proposed to do a full 3 percent (with county money),  then basically that becomes our only ask,"  he told the board.

Cultural competence:  There's nothing in the budget about cultural competence or racial equity,  but Morrison said he plans to unveil a plan in the coming year. The cost won't be high enough to merit a budget breakout,  he said.  He said his effort will involve "a number of individuals and partners,"  with the possibility of outside money to cover some of the cost.  He says he wants to hear from task forces studying cultural competence and African American males before making a decision:  "The worst thing you can do is convene a task force and say,  'Here's the plan.' "

Bell schedules:  Morrison insists that months of talks with parents and teachers who want bell schedules and bus routes changes haven't been wasted,  even though none of the options they pondered made it into the 2013-14 budget.  He lauded those people for working on solutions,  but said all alternatives were too expensive and/or affected too many people to tackle this year.  He noted that previous CMS leaders caught flak for making the original changes without consulting the people affected;  "I don't want to do that again."  In short, the answer is "not this year," but not necessarily "never."

Safety:   There's no money in the 2013-14 budget for additional security staff or school resource officers.  Morrison said that's because the city of Charlotte has shifted $2.7 million in costs for the existing police corps to CMS over the last two years.  Council members are looking for ways to give CMS a break,  and if that happens it might free up money to expand staffing.

Cuts:  The plan includes $9 million in  "reductions and redirections,"  including $1.6 million from eliminating 14 vacant central office jobs,  $2.5 million from adjusting budgeted salaries and benefits to reflect the reality of what the current workforce is earning and $1 million to eliminate the contract for Thinkgate tests.  Morrison said more savings may show up in his second year,  as he continues working through CMS'  processes and systems.

Shooter drill and CMS-TV school

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is working with county officials to plan a safety drill simulating an armed attack.

Superintendent Heath Morrison would like to see a high school partner with the newly-revived CMS-TV station to air student-produced programs.

And the cultural competency task force is exploring what an expanded diversity office might do to help students.

Those are a few of the tidbits I picked up at Butler High last night,  at the last of three CMS town hall sessions designed to give the public a voice in budget planning and a chance to check in with the district's 22 advisory task forces.

Plenty of CMS officials and task force members were on hand,  but there wasn't much public.  Attendance has been light throughout,  several people said,  and Monday's was so anemic that everyone went home 20 minutes early.

Some people may have opted for more convenient outlets,  such as a recent online budget poll that got more than 11,000 responses.  And most of us know that the public seldom mobilizes on a big scale until specific proposals are on the table,  especially proposals that upset people.

"Compared to 2009-10,  the crisis mentality isn't there,"  CMS magnet director Jeff Linker said,  referring to school-closing plans that drew big crowds and angry protests.

On Monday,  his task force on magnets, choice and alternative schools drew one parent unhappy with his middle school options.  They'd gotten about a dozen visitors at an earlier town hall held at Waddell Language Academy.

Joel Gilland,  a Mountain Island Elementary parent who co-leads the group with Linker,  said the task force has talked about ways to help neighborhood schools work with their communities to become schools of choice.  They're thinking there should be a way for CMS staff and people with ideas to work together to explore academic specialties,  partial magnets or alternative structures  (such as turning Mountain Island into a K-8 school)  that might boost interest.

Morrison's mention of creating a video-production academy,  which would give students experience that could translate to a career,  ties in with a push to explore stronger career-tech programs throughout the district.  Linker said the task force is also looking at areas with  "pent-up demand"  for magnets  (the suburbs have mostly been left out)  and new themes that might serve new needs.

At the session to talk about cultural competency Monday,  it was just me and three staffers there to lead the discussion.

"It's been a little bit disheartening,"  said co-leader Maria Petrea,  interim East Zone superintendent and former principal of Collinswood Language Academy.  "For whatever reason,  I don't think the public has seized the opportunity to be involved."

Reports on Morrison's interest in working with racial equity consultant Glenn Singleton have stirred plenty of online commentary,  but apparently folks who love or hate that idea aren't turning out to talk in person.  Petrea said the task force has been asked to explore options for a diversity office that would recognize the district's cultural and linguistic diversity and encourage a staff pool that reflects that diversity.  She said the group hasn't been asked to weigh in on whether CMS should work with Singleton's Pacific Educational Group and doesn't expect to make recommendations for the 2013-14 budget.

The budget overview that launched the meeting had the biggest crowd,  with all the task force members and other staffers in the audience.  Morrison's comment about staging an  "active shooter drill"  sometime this year came in response to a question about mental health and school safety.

The town halls are over,  but there will be two more public sessions to comment on the budget after Morrison presents a plan:  April 16 at West Charlotte High and April 22 at Rocky River High.  You can keep up with budget developments on the district's web site.