CRANDALL — Preserving employment will still be a “guiding principle” as Dalton Public Schools officials work to cut $6 million from their operating budget over the next two years, but it’s possible the district will have to cut $2 million worth of jobs.
That’s according to Superintendent Jim Hawkins who unveiled a tentative two-year budget reduction plan at a work session in Crandall Friday afternoon. He said he plans to discuss the possibility of staff reductions with employees Monday morning. No employees lost their job in the past year as a result of budget cuts, officials said, but each of the nearly 1,000 employees took a pay cut. Higher-paid employees took higher cuts.
“This is going to get deep, and it’s going to get very difficult,” Hawkins said. “... We cannot avoid getting into positions probably much longer.”
Board member Danny Crutchfield said he believes employees have been so helpful and “energized” about helping the district reduce costs over the last year partly because they were invited to be part of the process and were told the effort was part of preserving their employment. Hawkins, who was hired in December 2008, has led the district through $5 million in budget reductions so far with the guiding principles being to minimize classroom impact, preserve employment and maintain $5 million in operating cash.
“I’m not sure we can say (preserving employment) is a guiding principle right now if we’re going to have to eliminate people,” Crutchfield said. “... So should that guiding principle be ‘try to preserve employment?’”
“Probably,” Hawkins replied, then added, “When we say those are guiding principles, isn’t that a qualifier?”
Officials did not identify a specific number of job cuts that might come. Finance director Carol Shanahan said information about anticipated revenue reductions and additional expenses are merely best-guess projections.
Hawkins said he still intends to try to avoid staff reductions where possible but with more than 80 percent of the district’s $60 million budget going toward salaries and benefits, it will be difficult to avoid cutting jobs much longer.
The budget reductions — and possibly staff reductions — would come in the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years. The school system’s fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30. The operating cash — money left at the end of the fiscal year — covers expenses until more revenue begins arriving in December or January.
If school officials do nothing, there will be $730,000 left at the end of the 2011 fiscal year and a $7.5 million deficit by June 2012, Shanahan projects. She said the figures are based on expectations of more state budget cuts, loss of federal stimulus funding, an expected decrease in local property taxes and rising costs related to salaries and other expenses.
Hawkins said he has not identified specific cuts, but he expects the district will probably cut $4 million in 2011 and another $2 million in 2012. He said $2 million would likely come out of the district’s various program budgets, $2 million from existing employees’ salaries and benefits and $2 million in positions.
Hawkins also identified $723,000 in additional cuts he’ll ask board members to approve at their Monday meeting at 100 S. Hamilton St. The work session begins at 5:30 p.m., and the regular meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. The cuts include $650,000 from eliminating three teacher work days. The rest of the cuts come from leaving a central office vacancy unfilled, reducing the rate of substitute pay and other minor changes like allowing water fountains to sit at room temperature instead of refrigerated. The cuts will allow the school system to end the current fiscal year with $7.2 million in the bank, Shanahan projects.
Teachers and their support staff will not be paid for a day in January in which school was out because of ice and will also will not be paid on April 1 and a training day in early June. April 1 will be a day off for students.
Education
Related Photos
Discussion
Dalton school officials expecting job cuts
- Education
-
-
Dalton schools budget draws almost $2 million from reserves
Dalton School Superintendent Jim Hawkins, left, speaks as board of education members Danny Crutchfield and Rick Fromm listen during a six-hour board meeting retreat. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
Dalton Public Schools Superintendent Jim Hawkins said he’s no longer expecting a big economic bounce back to solve the school system’s budget concerns.
Continued ... -
Northwest students place high, take tech to next level
Several Northwest Whitfield High School students placed high in the Sequoyah Regional Georgia Educational Technology Fair.
Continued ... -
Dalton student on GPS May Court
Christian Bryant of Dalton has been elected to the May Court at Girls Preparatory School and will serve as crown bearer to the May Queen during the May Day festivities in April.
Continued ... -
Northwest Whitfield High School Sweetheart Court
Northwest Whitfield High School's Tip Off Club hosted the 2012 Sweetheart Dance at the school recently.
Continued ... -
Art student’s work on exhibition
Gary Sanchez Soto will represent Murray County High School in “An Artistic Discovery: The Congressional Art Competition” at the Derrell C. Roberts Library on the campus of Dalton State College.
Continued ... -
Professor to speak on the Oscars during 'Lunch & Learn' program
Jonathan Lampley, assistant professor of English at Dalton State, will present “The Oscars: Winners, Losers, and Weird Moments” in the College’s James E. Brown Center, room 105, on Feb. 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
Continued ... -
Local high schools recognized for AP classes, exams
State School Superintendent John Barge named several local high schools as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools.
Continued ... -
The Perfect Polish
Cosmetology and Skills U.S.A. at North Murray High School recently sponsored a community service project in which Donna Blankenship’s students gave manicures to the residents of the Murray County Senior Center.
Continued ... -
MCHS accepts letterman's jacket
James “William” Butler’s family presented his letterman’s jacket to Murray County High School Principal Gina Linder during halftime of a varsity boys’ basketball game recently. The jacket, which has a “1962 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP” patch on it, will be displayed in the school’s trophy case. Presenting the jacket to Linder were Butler’s nieces, Chloe Brown and Ashley Strong; his wife, Patsy Butler; his daughter, Robin Baggett; and his grandchildren, Jaden and Janna Baggett.
Continued ... -
Mountain Creek Academy honors December teacher of the month
English teacher Jennifer Weninger (center) was selected by her peers as December’s Teacher of the Month at Mountain Creek Academy. Principal Paula Martin (right) and Curriculum Instructor Facilitator/Counselor Jennifer Lents presented her with the award.
Continued ... -
Mountain Creek Academy honors December staff of the month
Mountain Creek Academy Lisa Sanford, center, accepts a certificate from Principal Paula Martin and Counselor Jennifer Lents (left) as she is recognized with a December Staff of the Month award. Sanford has worked at Mountain Creek for 12 years.
Continued ... -
Med students visit Murray High
In December, students from Murray County High School and North Murray High School were invited to meet with fourth-year medical students Allen Ligon of Augusta and Heath Petty, an MCHS graduate.
Continued ... -
Gladden honors December student of the month
Joey Ecklebarger is the December 2011 Gladden Middle School Student of the Month. Joey is motivated and puts forth great effort in all classes. His behavior and attitude towards school, other students and teachers is also outstanding. Sean Hammond, Joey’s social studies teacher says of Joey, “He is great to have on our team.”
Continued ... -
Coker honors students for Week 14 good behavior
As part of Coker Elementary School’s PBIS or Positive Behavioral and Interventions Support system, students that follow the school expectations are recognized each week for their Great Behavior.
Continued ... -
Gladden students use Facebook in lessons
Gladden Middle School eighth-grader Shaley Stafford shows her Facebook page model on the book “Alice in Wonderland.” Eighth grade reading teacher Keith Rollins had his students choose a book from the library to do a book report on. However, this was not an ordinary book report. After the students read their book, they were to do their report by making a Facebook page about their book.
Continued ...
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
