So, just as school is finally settled in to its routine...students and teachers are back and have been for several weeks now -- the "numbers" are coming out. That is, the student enrollment numbers. Once projected to be at least 1200 more students than last year, the reality is there are about 300 MORE students than last year. Now, that's still a steady increase ... but a lot less than was projected right in the middle of a heated budget fight.
The explanation doesn't seem to make much sense, either. Something about transfers in and out of school and in and out of county. Now, the transfer numbers this year were actually LOWER than they were last year over the same period. And the estimate of new students was based on the transfer number. So, if this year's transfer numbers were lower, it seems this year's growth numbers would also be lower.
On the other hand, the school system did have a challenge in terms of its data management system. Still, it seems staff either arrived at really inaccurate numbers OR knew the real numbers and inflated them to gain leverage in the budget fight.
Now, the issue of gaining leverage seems to have a significant risk for the school system. First, it was and is clear that the County Commission simply wasn't going to fully fund the school system's budget this year. So, artificially inflating numbers in the heat of battle would seem to be of little benefit. Second, the pesky thing with numbers is they eventually become REAL, not estimates. So, if they were intentionally inflated, someone had to know the truth would be revealed and look bad. No Director would knowingly want to be exposed in this way.
The most credible explanation, it seems, is that personnel changes and staff error contributed to an inflated number being presented. While that may be understandable, it certainly shouldn't be the norm. More questions should have been asked before those numbers were released to the County Commission and the public.
The bottom line is that our school system is growing and adding students. 300 more this year than last. And our schools remain poorly funded relative to peer districts. Transparency and accuracy will go a long way toward building the public's trust as the community seeks solutions and a way forward.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Time to Get Some Knowledge
The Sumner County Commission is set to learn all about how school system budgets work -- AFTER the latest round of budget turmoil.
Perhaps this session will prevent future budget crises.
Or, help clear up misunderstandings.
One thing that might be nice is if the budget masters teach about calendars.
Perhaps this session will prevent future budget crises.
Or, help clear up misunderstandings.
One thing that might be nice is if the budget masters teach about calendars.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
A Wise Change?
Ted Wise will now Chair the Sumner County School Board. Beth Cox will be vice-chair. The two replace Don Long, who declined a nomination for a fourth term and Danny Hale, who is no longer on the Board after not running for re-election this year.
Wise and Cox both expressed a desire to reach out to the County Commission and build a stronger relationship with that body.
The Star News has more.
Wise and Cox both expressed a desire to reach out to the County Commission and build a stronger relationship with that body.
The Star News has more.
Towle and the Golden Ticket
It runs right through Vol State Community College. It's about jobs and opportunity. And, it's on target.
Monday, September 17, 2012
What was never lost can't be found ...
Or, the story of the missing money...that wasn't ever missing.
County Commissioner Jim Vaughn accused the school system of "hiding" money or..."finding" new money after the budget process started.
Director of Schools Del Phillips says, nope. It didn't happen that way. The money trail was documented the entire way.
The documents, available at SumnerSchools.org, seem to back Phillips up.
Tonight, we'll see the County Commission in action -- and we'll surely hear mention of this "hot" issue.
Will more money turn up? Will the mystery of the never lost money be solved? Tune in at 7 PM in Gallatin for the answers.
County Commissioner Jim Vaughn accused the school system of "hiding" money or..."finding" new money after the budget process started.
Director of Schools Del Phillips says, nope. It didn't happen that way. The money trail was documented the entire way.
The documents, available at SumnerSchools.org, seem to back Phillips up.
Tonight, we'll see the County Commission in action -- and we'll surely hear mention of this "hot" issue.
Will more money turn up? Will the mystery of the never lost money be solved? Tune in at 7 PM in Gallatin for the answers.
Losing Focus
Tonight, the County Commission meets.
Among the items for discussion: The final school system budget. This vote will end a months-long battle that included a nearly two-week delay of school. The budget includes likely layoffs as the gap between what the Board of Education requested and County Commission funded started at over $7 million and ended up at just under $900,000. This was due in part to accounting gimmicks by the Commission that shifted capital funds for schools into operating funds -- thus, no new money was added, but the funds were "repurposed."
Also on the agenda is a resolution encouraging the Board to eliminate 7 Focus Coordinator positions instead of laying off classroom instructors. Since no layoffs have yet been made or announced, this vote may be premature. Of course, the County Commission is certainly within their rights to recommend by resolution, but they can't dictate the school system's budget.
After tonight, when the budget is expected to pass, look for both bodies to continue the discussion about schools and funding. Or, to do more of the same and wait until next budget year for another crisis that could have been avoided.
Among the items for discussion: The final school system budget. This vote will end a months-long battle that included a nearly two-week delay of school. The budget includes likely layoffs as the gap between what the Board of Education requested and County Commission funded started at over $7 million and ended up at just under $900,000. This was due in part to accounting gimmicks by the Commission that shifted capital funds for schools into operating funds -- thus, no new money was added, but the funds were "repurposed."
Also on the agenda is a resolution encouraging the Board to eliminate 7 Focus Coordinator positions instead of laying off classroom instructors. Since no layoffs have yet been made or announced, this vote may be premature. Of course, the County Commission is certainly within their rights to recommend by resolution, but they can't dictate the school system's budget.
After tonight, when the budget is expected to pass, look for both bodies to continue the discussion about schools and funding. Or, to do more of the same and wait until next budget year for another crisis that could have been avoided.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Del Phillips Writes a Letter to Jim Vaughn
Well, really, it is a letter to the entire community. But it addresses the concerns raised by "one commissioner." And guess who it is? Jim Vaughn.
Here's the letter:
Last night the County Budget Committee approved our 2012-13 General Purpose Budget and passed it on to the full County Commission for consideration.
This budget contains $2.5 million in reductions from the needs-based budget initially approved by our School Board on July 17, 2012, including a $935,000 reduction in personnel that the school system will be carrying out over the next few weeks. These cuts are in addition to over $3.3 million that was cut from last year’s budget.
I am disappointed that despite all our efforts to communicate accurate,up-to-date information about our budget and basic accounting processes, the people of Sumner County continue to receive inaccurate information and accusatory comments from our funding source. Many of you may have received such information last night from one County Commissioner.
In order to balance this year’s budget, our School Board allocated $5.3 million from our final reserve fund, the maximum amount that can be used by state law. The available reserve amount that can be used for funding is always an estimate until the year-end financials are closed. We are very fortunate that this year’s final reserve balance was positively impacted by a combination of expense reductions/savings and the final revenue amount.
Please note that we did not receive the final revenue amount from the County until August. Please also note that until the final actualization of last year’s savings were realized and until the County gave us our final revenue, we were unable to determine a final reserve balance. Without this final reserve balance, we did not know what would be available for 2012-2013 spending.
It is also important to point out that just like in years past, the original budget presented had an estimated reserve balance until the books were closed and final numbers realized. This has always been the procedure for the School System and the County General. Nothing changed this year. I am proud to say that our System, operating on last year’s $188,375,680 budget, closed its fiscal books before our County General, operating on a $46,377,920 budget.
Until our County Commission realizes our need for a long-term sustainable solution, the funding will continue to be inadequate. Layoffs will continue to be inevitable, and the need for transparency will grow.
I have said all along, that conversation is good. This year’s budget process has started a conversation that will be continued until a long-term, sustainable solution is reached.
However, it saddens me that when we should be having a conversation about our district’s future, we are instead forced to discuss what student services to cut.
It is easy to get caught up in the political rhetoric. This blame game takes the focus off of the issue at hand – which is fighting for our students to have the best education possible and fighting for our teachers to have the resources to provide that education.
We began in August of 2011 communicating the needs of this system. I feel we have done so in a professional and thorough way. Our County Commission had every opportunity to fully fund our budget. They did not. Let me encourage you to not let this take the focus off of what is important, our students.
Our students deserve the adults and leadership of Sumner County to be professional, proactive, and responsible. Our ultimate goal is to provide the best education possible for every child in Sumner County.
Your Director of Schools,
Del R. Phillips III, Ph.D
Here's the letter:
Last night the County Budget Committee approved our 2012-13 General Purpose Budget and passed it on to the full County Commission for consideration.
This budget contains $2.5 million in reductions from the needs-based budget initially approved by our School Board on July 17, 2012, including a $935,000 reduction in personnel that the school system will be carrying out over the next few weeks. These cuts are in addition to over $3.3 million that was cut from last year’s budget.
I am disappointed that despite all our efforts to communicate accurate,up-to-date information about our budget and basic accounting processes, the people of Sumner County continue to receive inaccurate information and accusatory comments from our funding source. Many of you may have received such information last night from one County Commissioner.
In order to balance this year’s budget, our School Board allocated $5.3 million from our final reserve fund, the maximum amount that can be used by state law. The available reserve amount that can be used for funding is always an estimate until the year-end financials are closed. We are very fortunate that this year’s final reserve balance was positively impacted by a combination of expense reductions/savings and the final revenue amount.
Please note that we did not receive the final revenue amount from the County until August. Please also note that until the final actualization of last year’s savings were realized and until the County gave us our final revenue, we were unable to determine a final reserve balance. Without this final reserve balance, we did not know what would be available for 2012-2013 spending.
It is also important to point out that just like in years past, the original budget presented had an estimated reserve balance until the books were closed and final numbers realized. This has always been the procedure for the School System and the County General. Nothing changed this year. I am proud to say that our System, operating on last year’s $188,375,680 budget, closed its fiscal books before our County General, operating on a $46,377,920 budget.
Until our County Commission realizes our need for a long-term sustainable solution, the funding will continue to be inadequate. Layoffs will continue to be inevitable, and the need for transparency will grow.
I have said all along, that conversation is good. This year’s budget process has started a conversation that will be continued until a long-term, sustainable solution is reached.
However, it saddens me that when we should be having a conversation about our district’s future, we are instead forced to discuss what student services to cut.
It is easy to get caught up in the political rhetoric. This blame game takes the focus off of the issue at hand – which is fighting for our students to have the best education possible and fighting for our teachers to have the resources to provide that education.
We began in August of 2011 communicating the needs of this system. I feel we have done so in a professional and thorough way. Our County Commission had every opportunity to fully fund our budget. They did not. Let me encourage you to not let this take the focus off of what is important, our students.
Our students deserve the adults and leadership of Sumner County to be professional, proactive, and responsible. Our ultimate goal is to provide the best education possible for every child in Sumner County.
Your Director of Schools,
Del R. Phillips III, Ph.D
Jim Vaughn vs. the Budget
So, the underfunded school system budget passed last night at the Budget Committee. It will be voted on by the full Commission on Monday, September 17th.
One Commissioner, Jim Vaughn, sent out a facebook post and contact NewsChannel5 about what he called the "truth" about the budget.
He claims the Board "found" money after schools were closed on August 2nd. Then says this "finding" was hidden from the public. He asserts that this is but one example of the Board's lack of transparency.
There's only one problem. The Board DID disclose the money. At the initial budget presentation, the Board offered an estimate. By the August 21st Board meeting (school was already BACK in session by then), the Board was including the very likely to occur revenue in its budget projections as a means of bridging the gap between the Board proposal and the County Commission's funding offer. So, these dollars were known about and publicly available on August 21st. Jim Vaughn said nothing then. Not until last night did he complain about this. And his complaint further suggests that these funds represent "new" money, when he knows (or should know) this is not true.
It's worth noting that this is the same Jim Vaughn who argues that shifting money from one pot to another is the same as a budget increase -- yes, he was behind the accounting gimmick that "gave" the School Board money that was already earmarked for School Board projects -- thus, defunding those projects -- and then turned around and called that a funding increase.
Jim Vaughn is taking on the facts of the budget. But, the budget is winning.
One Commissioner, Jim Vaughn, sent out a facebook post and contact NewsChannel5 about what he called the "truth" about the budget.
He claims the Board "found" money after schools were closed on August 2nd. Then says this "finding" was hidden from the public. He asserts that this is but one example of the Board's lack of transparency.
There's only one problem. The Board DID disclose the money. At the initial budget presentation, the Board offered an estimate. By the August 21st Board meeting (school was already BACK in session by then), the Board was including the very likely to occur revenue in its budget projections as a means of bridging the gap between the Board proposal and the County Commission's funding offer. So, these dollars were known about and publicly available on August 21st. Jim Vaughn said nothing then. Not until last night did he complain about this. And his complaint further suggests that these funds represent "new" money, when he knows (or should know) this is not true.
It's worth noting that this is the same Jim Vaughn who argues that shifting money from one pot to another is the same as a budget increase -- yes, he was behind the accounting gimmick that "gave" the School Board money that was already earmarked for School Board projects -- thus, defunding those projects -- and then turned around and called that a funding increase.
Jim Vaughn is taking on the facts of the budget. But, the budget is winning.
Monday, September 10, 2012
County Budget Committee Meets
They will discuss the recently approved school system budget.
This is a budget that could result in the layoffs of up to 17 teachers by the end of this month. It could also result in significant cuts to Adult Education, eliminating $400,000 from a budget just under $750,000. That would mean additional layoffs to current employees of the Adult Ed. program.
This is the final committee step before the full County Commission takes its probably last action on the school system's budget for this year. That will come next week (Sept. 17th) when the Commission meets to approve or reject the Budget Committee's recommendation.
It is possible that someone who voted against one of several earlier proposals to fund schools (a small tax increase, using reserves) could initiate discussion on the issue again by way of offering to change their vote. That would re-open the issue for debate and a possible vote. Failing that action, the Commission will likely pass the budget and the Board will proceed with programmatic and staff cuts.
Of course, September 17th is well past the July 1st beginning of the fiscal year for the schools and county. They've been operating on a continuation budget since then because they couldn't do their business in a more timely fashion.
And, barring new revenue or more responsible action on the part of the County Commission, there will be further cuts next year as the school system keeps on growing and will most certainly require additional monies to operate.
This is a budget that could result in the layoffs of up to 17 teachers by the end of this month. It could also result in significant cuts to Adult Education, eliminating $400,000 from a budget just under $750,000. That would mean additional layoffs to current employees of the Adult Ed. program.
This is the final committee step before the full County Commission takes its probably last action on the school system's budget for this year. That will come next week (Sept. 17th) when the Commission meets to approve or reject the Budget Committee's recommendation.
It is possible that someone who voted against one of several earlier proposals to fund schools (a small tax increase, using reserves) could initiate discussion on the issue again by way of offering to change their vote. That would re-open the issue for debate and a possible vote. Failing that action, the Commission will likely pass the budget and the Board will proceed with programmatic and staff cuts.
Of course, September 17th is well past the July 1st beginning of the fiscal year for the schools and county. They've been operating on a continuation budget since then because they couldn't do their business in a more timely fashion.
And, barring new revenue or more responsible action on the part of the County Commission, there will be further cuts next year as the school system keeps on growing and will most certainly require additional monies to operate.
Friday, September 7, 2012
And We Have a Budget (for Schools)
The School Board this week officially approved its budget -- underfunded by some $7 million because of a lack of adequate funds from the County Commission. The new budget means cuts to personnel across the district, a mix of certified and classified staff. As many as 17 teachers could be laid off depending on numbers after new applications for early retirement are processed and posistions shifted.
The budget passed 10-1, the lone dissenter being District 1's Vanessa Silkwood. Silkwood continues to push for an unproven outsourcing model that has been rejected 4 times now by her Board colleagues. Silkwood claims savings that could not be realized this year because of bidding rules. And research by other Board members indicates outsourcing costs more money in the long-term and decreases the security in schools.
While the Board has seen an unprecedented level of cooperation recently, Silkwood remains an angry, lonely, dissenting voice -- pushing for options that are unproven -- or, in some cases, proven not to work.
The passage of this year's budget sets up a 2013-14 budget scenario that could see further cuts to teachers in spite of unprecedented student growth this year. The only remaining source of revenue is a school fund referendum on the November ballot. If passed, it could generate $3 million in steady, reliable income dedicated specifically for schools.
The budget passed 10-1, the lone dissenter being District 1's Vanessa Silkwood. Silkwood continues to push for an unproven outsourcing model that has been rejected 4 times now by her Board colleagues. Silkwood claims savings that could not be realized this year because of bidding rules. And research by other Board members indicates outsourcing costs more money in the long-term and decreases the security in schools.
While the Board has seen an unprecedented level of cooperation recently, Silkwood remains an angry, lonely, dissenting voice -- pushing for options that are unproven -- or, in some cases, proven not to work.
The passage of this year's budget sets up a 2013-14 budget scenario that could see further cuts to teachers in spite of unprecedented student growth this year. The only remaining source of revenue is a school fund referendum on the November ballot. If passed, it could generate $3 million in steady, reliable income dedicated specifically for schools.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Schools Growing at Rapid Pace
Despite another year with funding challenges caused by a budget battle between the School Board and County Commission, the Sumner County Schools are seeing enormous growth in student population with an increase of more than 1200 students over the same time period last year.
The growth is putting an added strain on a district that will soon be forced to layoff a number of teachers because the County Commission rejected its budget request.
Local investment in Sumner Schools has dropped in recent years and now represents only 32% of total revenue spent on schools. Statewide, the average is 39% local funding.
Sumner is one of the top 5 wealthiest counties in the state and has the lowest property tax rate of any county touching Davidson in middle Tennessee. The last property tax increase was 9 years ago.
Despite incredible growth in student population and a clear increase in costs over the past 9 years, the County Commission has steadfastly refused to consider new measures for generating revenue and dedicating it to the school system.
The only possibility for new funds for schools in the near future is a referendum that would increase the wheel tax -- effectively costing the average family less than a dollar a week -- and generate some $3 million annually that is dedicated exclusively for schools.
The referendum specifically spells out that all monies generated from the school fund referendum will go to the general purpose fund of the schools. Voters would have to approve any change in that designation by way of a referendum -- the County Commission has no power to take those funds away from schools.
The growth is putting an added strain on a district that will soon be forced to layoff a number of teachers because the County Commission rejected its budget request.
Local investment in Sumner Schools has dropped in recent years and now represents only 32% of total revenue spent on schools. Statewide, the average is 39% local funding.
Sumner is one of the top 5 wealthiest counties in the state and has the lowest property tax rate of any county touching Davidson in middle Tennessee. The last property tax increase was 9 years ago.
Despite incredible growth in student population and a clear increase in costs over the past 9 years, the County Commission has steadfastly refused to consider new measures for generating revenue and dedicating it to the school system.
The only possibility for new funds for schools in the near future is a referendum that would increase the wheel tax -- effectively costing the average family less than a dollar a week -- and generate some $3 million annually that is dedicated exclusively for schools.
The referendum specifically spells out that all monies generated from the school fund referendum will go to the general purpose fund of the schools. Voters would have to approve any change in that designation by way of a referendum -- the County Commission has no power to take those funds away from schools.
Mike Towle Hearts Debra Maggart
He says so right here! He even mentions that he's pining for her return...
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
They Meet Tonight
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