Fewer layoffs, more principal vacancies in Muscogee schools
By Mark Rice, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Superintendent
"We're working hard at it, believe me," Lewis said. "If people only knew how hard we're working on this, trying to get it done. ... But my commitment remains the same: I am not going to put uncertified people in front of our kids, and we're going to make sure we do things that are fiscally sound."
Lewis also pledged that any laid-off employee "in good standing in the district, even throughout the summer, they will have the first right to interview for any positions for which they are certified and qualified."
The board will vote on final adoption of the budget next Monday during its
The category of school-based layoffs comprises teachers, counselors and media specialists, Tessin said. Lewis has said 19 of the original 69 layoffs are teachers who have received poor performance evaluations or aren't certified or qualified for any available positions.
The administration also has reduced 44 district-level positions in Lewis' reorganization of the central office, but none of those job cuts had people in them because of attrition or reassignments, Tessin said last week.
The preliminary budget for fiscal year 2015, which starts
The budget also calls for closing the
Despite the district's school buildings averaging 43 years old and the support buildings averaging 64 years old, the set aside for capital projects has been slashed almost in half, from
The administration started its budget planning in January looking for between
The budget keeps the millage rate at 23.37 for the 18th straight year and has no furlough days for the second straight year.
The district's allotment from the state is expected to be
Overall, the district has lost a total of
The revenue sources for the district's FY15 budget are 56.4 percent from the state, 42.3 percent local, 1.3 percent federal and 0.1 percent other.
The expenditures break down like this: 80 percent for instruction and direct support; 10 percent for plant operations; 7 percent for general and administrative; 3 percent for other uses. Those percentages are the same as FY14.
The budget uses
Retired teacher
Tarver, who was the only resident to speak during Monday's public hearing on the budget, asked rhetorically, "Which is more important, the teachers or the money? ... Do what's right. All of us are going to answer to Him."
No board member or administrator responded to Tarver's comments.
Principal vacancies
The five principal vacancies Tessin said will be filled with Lewis' pending recommendations for the board at Monday's meeting are:
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