State mandate may mean less staff

By: By KATE McCARDELL Floridan Staff Writer | Jackson County Floridan
Published: February 15, 2009

In an effort to comply with state class size regulations, the Jackson County School District anticipates a reduction in staffing in the next school year.
The reduction will mark approximately $1.4 million in savings for the district’s operating budget — something that could help the district if the state continues to cut funding for public education.
According to Jackson County Schools Financial Director Terry St. Cyr, most of the approximately 15 teaching positions will be reduced by attrition.
Additionally, the district estimates that about two administrative personnel positions, eight-and-a-half guidance positions, five-and-a-half technology positions, one office position and 16 aide positions will be cut in the 2009-2010 school year. The fiscal year begins this summer, St. Cyr said.
The numbers could change slightly, he noted. The current estimation is based on the school district’s present student population.
The school district should have a more accurate measure of reduction requirements by the end of March, he said, when the projected student population for the next school year will be determined.
So far, the Jackson County School District is in compliance with class size maximums, based on a district-wide calculation, St. Cyr said.
In March, the school district is expected to successfully comply with the class size maximum based on calculations for each individual school, he said.
What district administrators are not yet sure of is if they will comply with the requirement on a class-by-class basis, St. Cyr said.
That will be determined in October, when the actual student population number for the year is known, he said.
If Jackson County, as well as any other school district in the state, does not meet the mandate, a penalty is imposed that moves a portion of the district’s general funds into its capital outlay budget.
St. Cyr said the transfer of the funding is basically a message from the state that if a district cannot meet class size requirements, that district must not have enough buildings.
The financial balancing act Jackson County and other districts statewide face might only get more difficult. The Florida School Boards Association reported recently that state economists are projecting a budget shortfall of as much as $5 billion for 2009-2010.
Next Sunday’s edition of the Jackson County Floridan will provide an update on the status of the Jackson County School District’s finances, school-by-school staffing plans and the board’s efforts to keep the financial burden off of students and their families.
Additionally, the Floridan will show readers how they can help their community schools’ budgets.