- April 25, 2024
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NOTE: This story was changed at 8:38 p.m. June 3, to fix an error. Originally, we reported that $444,376 could be saved through reorganizing the custodial program; it should have said $44,376.
After extensive discussion this week about how to cut $1.8 million from its budget next year, the Flagler County School Board decided at an emergency budget workshop Thursday which programs to cut.
At a Tuesday meeting, the board ended its conversation torn between closing a school or cutting a bundle of programs to make up for money that will be lost if a 0.5 mill property tax increase does not pass in June. If the tax is approved, the cuts will not be made.
However, district staff used Wednesday to find additional ways to squeeze its budget to avoid such drastic cuts. Valentine worked with school principals Wednesday to find $417,124 in costs for supplies and travel that can be cut. The custodial program will also be reorganized, at a savings of $44,376.
Because of that, the district will not have to cut its bus program, an option that would have eliminated bus transportation for elementary school students who live within two miles of their schools.
The board also decided that, rather than closing Everest Alternative School as it discussed Tuesday, it will restructure the program to still serve students who need nontraditional options for their education, but without a formally operated school.
Six paraprofessionals will be eliminated based on seniority. There are 20 paraprofessionals working in the district that don’t qualify for state funding, said Superintendent Janet Valentine. She recommended that the district purge those positions over the next three years. The first six positions cut will save the district $112,116.
Other programs, like the Princess Place satellite classroom and the afterschool stringed-instruments program, will face budget reductions rather than eliminations.
The cuts approved are not final; the board will meet again Tuesday to further refine its cuts. However, contractually, paraprofessionals had to be notified of their termination by Thursday, so that decision had to be made at the emergency meeting.
The agreed cuts may not amount to the full deficit in the district’s budget for next year if the tax does not pass. Valentine was unsure whether the $417,124 in cuts from schools included cuts to purchasing new library books. If so, the cuts list is about $100,000 short, because the library books are already included in the list of cuts. Valentine will confirm on Tuesday whether books were listed twice, but board member Andy Dance said the unfinalized budget is fluid enough that they can find $100,000 if needed.
However, School Board member Sue Dickinson said if the district can find an additional $100,000 in its budget, it should do so to avoid laying off the six paraprofessionals. She also asked that the district examine its teachers who are currently on assignment, saying that it was unfair that the only personnel losses were to paraprofessionals.
“If there’s any way we can save these six people, we should sit here until we figure out how to do so,” Dickinson said.
But Valentine said the paraprofessional program is bloated and should be re-examined regardless of the potential budget deficit.
“It’s tough, because when we make these cuts, it sometimes looks like we’re targeting a specific group, but we’re moving toward becoming as efficient as we can,” she said. “Part of that is looking at our positions.”
Board members said they hope to examine all of its departments, saying it had been too long since the district organization had been scrutinized.
“If we can save by reorganizing our custodial department, we can probably save elsewhere,” Dance said.
| 2013-2014 Budget Reductions | Potential Savings | Agreed Cuts |
|---|---|---|
| Everest | $577,275 | $562,130 |
| Linear Park | $27,558 | $27,558 |
| Princess Place | $103,389 | $82,711 |
| Strings program | $57,376 | $21,000 |
| Paraprofessionals | $112,116 | $112,116 |
| Not renewing CIC | $14,625 | $14,626 |
| Problem Solver competitions | $29,207 | $29,207 |
| Library books | $100,420 | $100,420 |
| GSB reduction | $93,056 | $93,056 |
| Teacher of the year | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| S&RD lobbyist | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| BTES chiller | $44,138 | $44,138 |
| BTES FPL rebate | $204,479 | $204,479 |
| Waste pick-up service change | $34,060 | $34,060 |
| Custodial reorganization | $44,376 | $44,376 |
| Reudcing supplies, travel, etc. at all schools | $417,124 | $417,124 |
