and why?
December 29, 2004
In the March 31, 2004, blue budget booklet prepared for the public to understand the budget situation with B-R, there are a number of interesting issues that now deserve closer inspection:
a) Quoted as saying the fiscal year 2004 school budget was $45,007,635. The requested amount for fiscal year 2005 would be $48,242,430.
b) Enrollment for 2004 school year was 6051 students, and anticipated enrollment of 6183 students for the 2005 school year.
c) Described the four Tiers that would be needed if the district did not have the $48,242,430 in revenue to support its expenses.
Taking a look at the situation nine months later:
a) The approved revenue figure for the 2005 school budget (as of 12/15/2004) is $45,329,039. So, without considering "gift" money, B-R is already operating with more revenue than it did in the prior year. Now, the four "gifts" need to be factored in; and they total $2,036,697. The total revenue that B-R will receive from known sources is $47,365,736. This means that B-R has $2,358,101 more in operations than it did in the prior year; or 5.24% more money.
b) The actual school population is 5974 students; 77 students fewer. This represents a decrease of 1.2% of the student body.
c) Tier I and Tier II cuts were made (with the exception of the Kindergarten recheduling). Together, they save the district $760,000. As shown above, the total revenue of $47,365,736 means the district is only short by $876,694. Therefore, after the $760k savings from Tier I & II, the total revenue is $116,694 less than what was published by the School Committee in the spring of 2004 as the goal for running the school district. Therefore, the district should be down no more than two teachers. Anything more than that is just plain wrong.
It is time to demand accountability of the school leadership. Where is all of this money going? More money, fewer students, so why do we hear again and again about the massive number of teachers we lost this year?
Challenge me on the above math if it is wrong. However, the schools have much more money than they did last year, have fewer students, so why do we hear about so many lost programs and teachers?
Shouldn't this money be going to teachers and programs? Or, is it being spent on something else?
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