Dropping High School Bus Service, SROs
posted June 28, 2004
County School Supt. Jesse Register said Monday that over $22 million in "pretty devastating" cuts will include 287 and one-half positions, including 145 and one-half instructional staff positions.
There will be 10 assistant principals cut as well as half-time assistant principal posts at several other schools. There will be 13 central office staff positions cut.
All consulting teachers will be eliminated to save $934,117. Dr. Register said some consulting teachers will remain where there is funding by federal funds and private sources.
He said bus service for high school students will be eliminated.
The School Resource Officer program will be totally cut.
Dr. Register said salary supplements for coaches and band directors will be reduced by 50 percent, "which impacts the ability schools have to maintain all athletic and marching band programs."
He said that will bring "major reductions in athletic offerings" in the schools.
There will not be a 2.5 percent pay raise for all employees as planned - to save $1.6 million. The schools will provide a 2 percent raise on the state portion only for teachers and other instructional staff mandated by law.
Capital improvements are being cut $2 million.
On the personnel cuts, Dr. Register said there were currently 131 teacher vacancies so there would not actually be 287 people dismissed.
The School Board will meet Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Bonny Oaks central office for a work session dealing with the cuts.
There will be a special called meeting of the board on Tuesday, July 6, at 3 p.m. to finalize the budget cuts.
Dr. Register said the cuts "are necessitated by the actions of five County Commissioners last Thursday."
“We respect the position of the commission to establish school funding and understand some of their concerns, especially the reality about the rising costs of all goods and services for all taxpayers,” said Board Chairman Chip Baker. “These reductions point to a problem that has been building for several years, and now, we are in a crisis and faced with making cuts that will move us backward, not forward.”
“Today is not a good day for education in Hamilton County, but it is a reality we must face and work together in finding a solution to ensure all of our children receive the best education available. These budget cuts make it clear that the need is real and will impact the quality of education in Hamilton County,” said Dr. Register. “I always believed this day would not come , but we have done as asked by five members of the commission and are prepared to implement the final list approved by the board and move forward from there.”
Dr. Register said available funds are $243,641,000.
He said cuts from the proposed budget are $22,260,000.
Transportation is being cut $2.6 million. In addition to cutting high school bus service, school starting times will be staggered for elementaries, all contract buses will be reduced to minimum mileage, school transportation staff will be converted to First Student employees, out of zone magnet school students will be transported on NCLB buses paid with federal funds.
Assistant principals being cut are at Soddy-Daisy High, Ooltewah High, Howard (2), Hixson High, Central High, Brainerd High, Hunter Middle and Ooltewah Middle. Half time assistant principals are cut at Barger, Brown, Clifton Hills, Donaldson, East Brainerd, East Lake, East Side, Hardy, Hillcrest, Howard, Lakeside, McBrien, McConnell, Orchard Knob, Red Bank, Shephed, Smith, Snow Hill, Spring Creek and Woodmore.
Central office staff cuts include NSF director, virtual high school coordinator, vocational academy coordinator, textbook coordinator, and two office clerks. Seven more central office positions will be cut later.
Budget Cuts Fact Sheet
Handed out by the Hamilton County Schools
- As requested by the County Commission, a total of $22.26 million in proposed cuts to the school system’s proposed budget have been identified.
- The cuts touch every part of the education system, from the classroom to the central office, both suburban and urban schools. In all, we are planning to eliminate 287.5 positions, which include 145.5 certified instructional and 33 administrative positions.
- A total of 74 classroom teaching positions will be eliminated to save $3.35 million. The cuts will impact most elementary, middle, and high schools. A total of $2.3 million will be cut by eliminating the planned 2.5 percent across the board pay increase. Only the minimum raise for teachers and other instructional support staff required by state law will be paid. That is 2 percent of the state portion of their salary only.
- A total of 20 administrative positions and 13 positions in the Central Office will be eliminated to save $1.97 million. Ten positions are assistant principals at the high school and middle school level, and all elementary assistants will serve in two schools.
- A $2.6 million reduction in transportation will eliminate bus service for high school students and require staggered starting times for all middle modifying and staggering starting times for the all elementary and middle schools in the system. Funding will be maintained for special education students. Some out of zone magnet school students will be transported with federal funds in association with No Child Left Behind
mandated transportation.
- Salary supplements that pay all coaches and band directors for extra duties associated with the programs will be reduced by 50 percent, which will impact the ability of schools to maintain all interscholastic athletics and marching band programs.
- A total of $3 million will be saved by eliminating the annual capital improvements budget and the technology budget used to update computers in schools. With these cuts, there is $1 million remaining in the capital improvement budget and $400,000 in the technology budget.
- School Resource Officers (SROs) will be completely eliminated from schools. This past year, 27 schools had full-time SROs.
Here is the statement of Dr. Register at the press conference:
“Thank you for coming. Today is not a good day for education in Hamilton County, but it is a reality that we must face that has been building over the last three years. We have made reductions each year in programs or services and have depleted available fund balances to reduce program cuts. But I would encourage everyone at the outset that we need to go about this work with a positive attitude and a commitment to continue to work toward the kind of school system we have envisioned since merger in 1996 and which has been enhanced by Mayor Ramsey’s education summit.
I have given all of you a copy of the proposed list of $22 million in reductions, necessitated by the action of five County Commissioners last Thursday. My staff and I have worked on these through the weekend and into this morning because the magnitude of what we have to recommend demands that attention.
The cuts we are forced to make include eliminating 287 and one-half positions, including 145 and one-half instructional staff positions. We are eliminating bus service for high school students. The School Resource Officer program will be totally cut. And salary supplements for coaches and band directors will be reduced by 50 percent, which impacts the ability schools have to maintain all athletic and marching band programs.
I want to say today we have done the work the County Commission asked us to do in a professional and straightforward manner. Much of what is on this list has been discussed over the past few weeks in one way or another, and the Board is familiar with the issues. The input and wisdom of the Board will be important on Thursday, and I will work with them to establish a final list for their approval next Tuesday. We are prepared to do our jobs and implement these reductions. That is our job. That is what we will do.
Much of the problem resides at the state level because we simply do not get a fair or adequate share of state money for our education system. That has been the case for the past seven years, and it has not gotten better. Hamilton County is dead last in terms of per-pupil funding from the state. The result is that local government,
the County Commission, is then faced with raising local taxes in order to fund the kind of education system we want. I respect the difficulty every one of the Commissioners has with raising taxes.
Hamilton County Schools
FY 05
Proposed Cuts to Comply with Continuation Budget
III. Instructional Technology
$1,000,000
Impact of Requested Continuation Budget:
IV. Reduce operating budget by $315,000
Communications - County Phone Services - Increase Charges to Schools
~ Software Support for Business Systems Software Licensing for Database
County government has agreed to pick up the cost incurred for this implementation
Summary: Hamilton County Schools, like other businesses, incur expenses related to ongoing operations of the system. These expenses include support for business systems inside the school system or expenses needed to run the day-to-day operations of schools.
For example, software support and licensing included in the budget is the school system's cost for implementation of the computer system being purchased by county government.
Courier service runs daily in the system to deliver books, mail and other supplies to schools.
~ Capital Outlay - New Vehicles for Pony Delivery $150,000
Reduction: Reduce operating budget by
2. Do not purchase 750 computers for middle and high school labs and
elementary classrooms.
technology initiative.
These upgrades would have started building the infrastructure for Mayor Ramsey's
Reduction: Reduce the instructional technology budget by $1 million
Summary: With the passage of the 42-cent tax increase in 1999, the School System established an annual $2 million fund to accelerate the use of computers and other technology in classrooms and schools throughout Hamilton County. As unfunded
mandates by state government for things like salaries combined with a slow economy over the past few years, the School Board opted to reduce this fund. Over the past five years, $4.8 million of the intended $10 million has been spent on technology. The system has purchased computers, and provided technology upgrades to all schools since 1999. In addition to regular classroom computers and installation of network capabilities in all schools,calculators and algebra labs have been purchased for some middle and high schools and technology labs have been provided in some middle schools. The budget request made by the Board of Education would have re-instated the $2 Million technology fund.
1. Stop school upgrades planned to improve network and internet access in classrooms.
1. Cut Assistant Principals at the following high schools:
2. Cut Assistant Principals at the following middle schools:
Hunter (1); Ooltewah (1)
Reduction: Reduce school-based and system administrative staff by 33 positions.
Summary: Over the past five years, Hamilton County Schools has increased the number of assistant principals in elementary, middle and high schools. These positions were added to assist principals with increased demands placed on school based administrators.
Adequate supervision in the large elementary, middle and high schools and inner city schools, as well as providing administrative assistance for the development of strong
instructional leadership at the school level were the goals. At the system level, central administration has been significantly reduced since merger, and reorganization has resulted in focused efforts to support instructional improvement in
the system. Positions cut this year are directly related to this goal.
3. Cut Assistant Principals at the following elementary schools: 1/2 position each
Red Bank High School (1); Soddy-Daisy High School(1); Ooltewah High School (1); Howard School of Academics & Technology (2); Hixson High School (1); Central High School (1; Brainerd High School (1) Barger; Brown; Clifton Hills; Donaldson; East Brainerd; East Lake; East Side;
Hardy; Hillcrest; Howard; Lakeside; McBrien; McConnell; Orchard Knob;
Red Bank; Shepherd; Smith; Snow Hill; Spring Creek; Woodmore
4. Cut a total of 13 central office staff positions.
reduce an additional 7 positions
~ In addition, executive staff will be asked to consolidate office services.
~ Cut NSF Director
~ Cut Virtual High School Coordinator
~ Cut Vocational Academy Coordinator
~ Cut Textbook Coordinator
~ Cut two office clerks
VI. Staff Infrastructure
$1,196,543
VII. School Resource Officers
$827,668
Impact of Requested Continuation Budget:
Reduction: Reduce Student Services budget by
~ Eliminate 1 technical education teacher at Lookout Valley High School to support Ed Tech Launch grant.
~ Do not convert contract nurses to system employees.
~ Eliminate 7 parent coordinators from operating budget.
~ Transfer costs to Title I and Carnegie budgets and reduce those allocated funds
Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts
Tyner Academy
Reduction: Reduce pupil services and school-based support staff by
Summary: Staff infrastructure refers to positions critical to the operation of a school.
Positions such as nurses, maintenance personnel and parent coordinators fall under this category:
~ Eliminate one plumber from additions to the budget.
Lakeside Academy
Battle Academy
Brown Academy
Normal Park Museum Magnet
in other areas for the following schools:
~ Eliminate 17 school resource officers.
~ Reduce coverage in all middle and high schools that presently have SRO's.
Barger Academy
~ Reduce custodial staff by 1/2 position per school (40 custodial positions)
Summary: School Resource Officers are local officers from the Chattanooga Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department that work in local schools. Over the past five years, the program has been funded in several ways, including munipalities
making contributions to the program. As those contributions have ended or been resolved with passage of the countywide sales tax in March, funding for the SROs comes from the
schools operating budget for Chattanooga Police Department SROs or from the County Sheriff's budget - other municipalities have indicated discontinuation of funding for next
year. This reduction will cut the number of SROs by 17, and officers will now share coverage of schools.
VIII. Alternative Classes for Disruptive Students
$420,000
Impact of Requested Continuation Budget:
~ Eliminate five elementary alternative class programs:
Hardy Elementary
Reduction: Reduce elementary operations budget by
Summary: This year, Hamilton County Schools had six classrooms located throughout the county for elementary students with significant behavior issues. The classes were designed to modify unruly behavior by providing a structured environment for these
students. This program also served to remove these students from regular classrooms.
Five of the six alternative classrooms will be eliminated, resulting in an 80% reduction in capacity for these students.
Big Ridge Elementary
Orchard Knob Elementary
Howard Elementary
East Ridge Elementary
~ Title I funds can be used to provide this program for the home-based schools only rather than district-wide.
IX. Consulting Teachers
Impact of Requested Continuation Budget:
Harrison Bay Technology Center
Sequoyah Technology Center
~ Eliminate 16.5 positions that are locally funded in the consulting teacher program.
Schools that will not have Consulting Teacher services that had received them this past school year:
Reduction: Reduce Consulting Teacher program by
Summary: In 2000, Hamilton County Schools began the implementation of a program to decentralize instructional leadership by taking experienced, seasoned curriculum specialists out of the Central Office and placing them in schools. These teachers mentor
new teachers, provide staff development such as implementing new curriculum, demonstrate new teaching methods, tutor students, and work with principals and other administrators in building strong school instructional leadership teams. This past year, a total of 39 consulting teachers worked in 80 schools in Hamilton County. One-third of the budget was from the operational budget and two thirds from federal funds and public and
private grants. The requested continuation budget will eliminate consulting teachers funded by the operational budget.The remaining support teachers paid with federal Title funds and grants can only be used in Title schools by Federal law.
East Ridge Middle Sale Creek Middle/High
Hunter Middle Soddy-Daisy High School
Ooltewah Middle Hixson High School
Tyner Middle Ooltewah High School
Red Bank Middle Red Bank High School
Brown Middle Central High School
CSLA Chattanooga High School
Hixson Middle Lookout Valley Middle/High
Signal Mountain Middle CSAS - Elementary/Middle/High
Loftis Middle East Ridge High
Daisy Elementary Westview Elementary
Soddy-Daisy Middle Washington School
Ganns-Middle Valley Elem. Harrison Elementary
McConnell Elementary Wolftever Elementary
Apison Elementary Allen Elementary
Soddy Elementary East Brainerd Elementary
North Hamilton County Elem. Thrasher Elementary
Lookout Mountain Elementary
Big Ridge Elementary Smith Elementary
Normal Park Museum Magnet Snow Hill Elementary
Falling Water Elementary
CSLA - Elementary Ooltewah Elementary
Nolan Elementary Alpine Crest Elementary
X. Extracurricular Supplements & Elementary Enhancement Programs
Impact of Requested Continuation Budget:
Extracurricular Supplements: 50% of all extracurricular supplements will be eliminated from the budget. Total budget for extracurricular supplements is $1,600,000.
Elementary Enhancement Positions: Elementary physical education and music are taught for all K-5 students for one or two classes a week, totaling 50 minutes of instruction
a week for each subject. Total cost for elementary music is $1,900,000 and elementary physical education is $1,900,000.
Reduction: Reduce supplemental salaries by
Summary: For decades, coaches and music teachers who work in the athletic and band programs in middle and high school have received a salary supplement to compensate
them for the extra duty beyond their responsibilities in the classroom.
~ Reduce middle and high school athletics by 50%.
~ Reduce physical education by 9 positions, music by 9 positions, and
elementary counselors by 7 positions.
XI. High School Reform
$1,366,467
Reduction: Reduce the high school reform budget by $1,366,467
Summary: Hamilton County Schools was selected by the Carnegie Foundation as one of 7 locations in the United States to take part in a national high school reform initiative. The
system was selected because of the confidence the Carnegie Corporation had in the district and its partnership with the Public Education Foundation, and the work of the
system demonstrating its commitment to raising student achievement . The program was launched in 2001. It is a comprehensive program involving all high schools in Hamilton County, raising graduation requirements so that all graduates are well prepared, and the development of a system of academies that tie the academic work in high school to the work world. The local business and philanthropic communities have been directly involved supporting and developing the academy program. These cuts represent the system's contribution to enhance the reform effort this next year.
The following positions and programs will be eliminated:
High School Reform
1. Eliminate 11 Academy Teachers
21st Century 1-Service Learning Instructor
Brainerd 2- Math (1) and English (1)
Central 2- Math (1) and Science (1)
East Ridge 2- Chemistry (1) and Spanish (1)
Ooltewah 1- Social Studies
Hixson Brainerd
Red Bank Soddy-Daisy
Ooltewah East Ridge
Red Bank 2- Math (1) and Science (1)
Soddy-Daisy 1- Environmental Science
2. Eliminate 9 Special Education Academy Support Teachers
Lookout Valley Central
1. Eliminate programs, equipment, and supplies
Building renovations for additional academies
Vocational instructional supplies
Tyner
Vocational
Update technology lab at Howard
Maintenance of equipment at Soddy-Daisy, Sequoyah and Howard
Vocational textbooks
Perkins required vocational professional development
XII. Salaries For Employees
$2,350,000
XIII. Teachers
$3,350,058
Impact of Requested Continuation Budget:
Reduction: Reduce salaries and benefits by
Summary: Hamilton County professional and support staff are paid with a combination of state and local funds. Professional, certified positions such as teachers receive raises that
are mandated by State Government. This year, State Government mandated a raise of 2% for certified staff, costing Hamilton County Schools $3.2 million. Of these funds, State
Government will provide only $0.7 million. The budget request made by the Board of Education was to give ALL employees a 2.5% pay raise. The total cost of this across the board raise would have been $5.0 million.
Reduction: Reduce funding for teaching positions mandated by state law.
~ Eliminate 2.5 % pay raise for all employees.
~Provide a 2% raise on the state portion only for teachers and other instructional staff
Summary: Over the last three years of budget cuts, classroom teaching positions have been protected in order to keep class sizes small in all schools. Small schools and good
class size have been the highest priority in the schools, and have been highly valued by parents. There are presently 2,932 certified teachers in the system. That number will be reduced by 74 positions for the upcoming school year. The cuts will impact teachers in schools across Hamilton County at the elementary, middle, and high school level. All efforts will be made to make the reductions from the existing vacancies in the school system.
~ Eliminate 74 teaching positions.
XIV. Textbooks
$1,212,000
Impact of Requested Continuation Budget:
XV. Contracts
$265,900
Falling Water Elementary/Lookout Valley Elementary
guidance counselors) to 10 months
~ Half-time librarians in 6 schools as follows:
Howard Elementary/Donaldson Elementary
Birchwood Elementary/East Ridge Elementary
Summary: Instructional support takes many forms, such as supplements for experienced
teachers who chair a department in a school or serve as a grade level chair. Instructional support staff such as librarians and guidance counselors work beyond the regular school year to prepare for the opening of school each fall. The requested cuts will eliminate the
additional funds for instructional leaders and support staff.
~ Eliminate supplement for Department/Grade Level Chairs
~ Reduce term of employment for school instructional support staff (librarians and
~ Transportation cost-of-living increase - 33.28% reduction
~ OJI
Reduction: Reduce operating budget by
~ Special Ed Contracts may result in reducing the number of children served by various organizations if agreement is not reached to provide services at a reduced cost.
~ Janitorial Service Base
Reduction: Reduce contract funding by
Summary: Contracts with outside agencies have inflationary increases built in to contracts, or are negotiated on an annual basis. Custodial services and transportation
services have inflationary costs built in the contracts. Special education contracts are negotiated yearly to serve an identified number of special needs students.
average $1.5 million for a yearly total of approximately $4.1 million.
Reduction: Reduce the textbook budget by
Summary: New textbook adoptions are purchased annually at an average cost of $2.5 million for each adoption. In addition, replacements and consumable textbooks Previous reductions approved by the Board eliminated the purchase of K-5 spelling books and science textbooks for grades 3-7.
~ Do not purchase middle and high school English handbooks.
~ Do not purchase Language Arts textbooks for grades K-5.
~ Do not replace lost or damaged textbooks.
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