General
1. How many school system employees are there that do not meet the definition of full time employment (30 hrs/wk as per the state and Anthems qualifications standards) that are receiving full time benefits (health, retirement, fringes)? Why does the budget allow for this when it is not standard business practice?
2. Is the school board/administration aware that insurance contracts can be cancelled by non-payment of premiums at any point, making a change in plan possible in the short term? Why would the school board not take advantage of this if there were an opportunity for savings in this school budget year and next?
Instructional
3. There are currently 26 administrative positions described on the GCPS website as "central office administration and support staff" earning well over $1.5 million per year in basic salary. Assuming 33% extra for benefits, this administrative overhead accounts for over $2 million of the school budget, before we even cost in the administration at the individual schools. Why does the Superintendent's budget continue to propose cutting teaching positions, while making no budget cuts in this area?
4. At the January 12th School Board Meeting, the question was raised why positions were listed as instructional in the budget, when they appeared to legally belong in the administrative budget category, in accordance with Memo. No. 215-09 from the DOE to Superintendents. Please could Dr. Underwood explain the reasons why each of those 12 listed positions, totalling over $580,000 in basic salary (assuming 33% for benefits, closer to $770k), is currently being financed out of the instructional budget category?
Position Base salary DOE code DOE description
Assistant Superintendent $107,279 62120 Executive administration services
Research & Info. Services
Analyst $50,570 62130 Information services
Elementary & Parent
Involvement Specialist $45,438 62130 Information services
Human resource specialist $60,654 62140 Personnel services
Transition specialist $43,287 62140 Personnel services
Human resources clerk $33,011 62140 Personnel services
Teacher induction specialist $32,533 62140 Personnel services
School nurse $43,874 62220 Health services
School psychologist $53,851 62230 Psychological services
School psychologist $42,911 62230 Psychological services
School psychologist $23,469 62230 Psychological services
Procedural Due Process
Specialist $47,973 62150 Planning service
Transportation
5. Bus Purchases: Why would we list capital asset purchases (such as bus purchases) as expense dollars? How does this accounting practice reconcile with the practices mandated under yellow book procedures?
6. Bus Routing & Transportation Metrics: Could bus routes be restructured to be more efficient? What effect would fewer bus stops have on the budget? Would there be a higher fill rate, fewer routes (& less buses needed), quicker runs? Does our transportation director have toolsets to allow her to analyze this type of information quickly to perform an analysis of this nature? What type of metrics are used to compare our transportation services with others?
Maintenance
7. Which other of the 40 like-sized school districts (such as Lunenburg, Patrick, Floyd, Grayson, New Kent, Amelia, King William, & Charlotte ) have been contacted to find some best practices we could be employing in maintenance? What was discovered? What overheads do we have that these other school districts do not?
# of school days
8. Adding ½ hour each school day would make up for early dismissals and snow days whilst reducing transportation, cafeteria, heat, and AC costs. Has this even been considered? Why would the school board not adopt changes in the calendar to realize some cost savings?
9. Why do we need to start school the third week of August? What effect does that have on the air-conditioning costs for the schools?
Lessons Learned
10. Given that the current budget process has created a climate of distrust with the community, what specific changes will the School Board and Superintendent make to the budget process in future years to encourage two-way communication with the community? Would you continue to have all public hearings on the School Board budget in a town hall format?
Posts
I commend the GEPA’s persuasion as far as the need for transparency. It also seems reasonable to illicit further exploration of the GCPS budget for additional identification into necessary expenditures versus discretionary outlay. As we look toward the future, we should be mindful of the obligations to set an educational standard in our own community, while also maintaining access to academic and healthy lifestyles for all children.
ReplyDeleteAs a continued supporter of the school system, health advocate for children, and collaborator of community-wide initiatives, I look forward to a positive outcome for all children as it relates to the GEPA’s mission.
Respectfully Submitted,
Heather Earley
Chair, School Health Advisory Board
Member, Chickahominy Health Advisory Board
President, Goochland Educational Foundation
The GEPA seems to have most of the correct answers to the Goochland school budget problem.
ReplyDeleteBut education will certainly not be dimished by increasing student-teacher ratios and reducing the nifty politically correct artistic programs.
Art Bachman