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.