New Hanover County Schools is moving
closer to finalizing its proposed budget for fiscal year
2009-10. The Board of Education will vote on whether or not to
approve the proposed budget at its July 7, 2009 regular meeting.
Due to roof renovations currently underway at the Spencer
Building, the July Board meeting will be held at Rachel Freeman
Elementary School of Engineering located at 2601 Princess Place
Drive in Wilmington.
"This has been the most challenging
budget process the district has faced in my 26-year history with
NHCS," said Superintendent Dr. Alfred H. Lerch, Jr. "Our goal
throughout this budget process has been to not interrupt the
instructional delivery, while saving as many jobs as we can.
This proposed budget has accomplished those goals to the best of
our ability under these dire circumstances."
At a Budget Work Session held on June
24, 2009, the New Hanover County Board of Education members
heard the details of the FY 2009/10 proposed budget in a
presentation by NHCS Chief Finance Officer Mary Hazel Small. As
of today's date, (6/25/09), the state of North Carolina still
does not have a finalized budget. So NHCS will have to wait
until the budget is finalized before the district will know for
certain the final reductions that will have to be made.
State and federal reductions call for a
$9.5 million reduction in the NHCS total budget of $201 million.
The following are some key points of the proposed budget:
NHCS will eliminate 236 positions from
the state and local budget. However, even though positions are
eliminated, many staff members have been able to remain employed
through placing them in vacant positions whenever possible.
The state has eliminated all third grade
teaching assistants which means 68 positions in NHCS.
The state has also called for the
elimination of Program 72, also known as Improving School
Accountability, which was allocated to schools for focused
intervention for Level 1 and 2 students. This funding was used
for tutors, staff development and supplies.
There are major reductions in state
funding textbooks, staff development funds and instructional
supplies.
Transportation is also being reduced by
$505,000. For NHCS, this means possibly no transportation will
be provided for the open enrollment schools: Williston, Virgo
and New Hanover High School. Parents would have to provide
transportation for students attending those schools.
Additionally, there will possibly be no late buses provided for
after-school and remediation activities.
To see the entire proposed NHCS budget
for FY 2009/10, go to the district's website at
