District's budget request up $25.8M
Charleston schools superintendent says funds will boost student
achievement
Published on 06/05/05
BY SEANNA ADCOX
Of The Post and Courier Staff
The Charleston County School District has revised its budget for
2005-06, asking for $25.8 million more than it spent last year to help
build new schools, raise employees' salaries, allow it to hire more
teachers and add programs to improve student performance.
Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson considers the increase the minimum
needed for the district to begin climbing out of the deep hole it has
dug itself into over the past several decades.
"It's interesting that we can have years and years of failure and want
instant improvement," she said last week. "We're not going to see
improvement overnight, at least not the kind people want to see."
Last year, less than 35 percent of the district's third- through
eighth-graders tested proficient or above for their grade level on
state-standardized tests in English and math. That's a slight
improvement from 2003. But to reach the state's goal of 90 percent
proficiency by 2010, "we've got a very, very long way to go," she said.
"We've been
negligent as a board in providing funds for
our schools," said board member Hillery Douglas. "It's showing in the
classrooms. It's time we move ahead and truly commit to a good
education."
Goodloe-Johnson, who took over as superintendent in October 2003,
believes there's hope in her plan, and that plan will cost money.
New initiatives include overhauling two failing middle schools, hiring
a private company to manage a discipline school for disruptive
students, adding classes for students held back at least twice and
hiring more teachers for students who speak little to no English.
But not everyone's buying the $334.7 million budget. That figure
includes operating expenses and debt service. Other federal and state
money sources bring the total budget to about $500 million.
Critics say they're tired of paying ever-increasing taxes to a broken
school system. The school board is split. Board member Sandi Engelman
says big budget increases should result in equal achievement leaps, not
steps. She and other board members want more proof the money's being
well spent.
"I see an awful lot of fat in the budget," said Lurline Fishburne, the
board's newest member. "My job and responsibilities are not only to the
children but the taxpayers. ... Right now, I have no intentions of
raising any taxes."
Board Vice Chairman David Engelman said the budget process needs
revamping. "I think we are piling more programs on top of what isn't
working," he said.
Even those supportive of Goodloe-Johnson's efforts want to be sure the
district spends its money more effectively. Board member Gregg Meyers
said he plans to propose a resolution calling for the district to
annually identify and get rid of programs not working.
Until last week, the district recommended a $30.2 million tax increase
— $20.1 million for operating expenses and $10.1 million to begin the
district's next building program.
But with the board poised to vote against that budget 5-4, district
officials began looking for ways to reduce the numbers.
Board member Brian Moody became the linchpin vote. Shave operating
expenses by at least $4.3 million, he told the superintendent, and
you've got a win.
So that's what she did. As of late last week, it looked as though the
board will pass the budget at its next meeting on June 13. The public
will get a chance to speak first. A public hearing is set for 5:15 p.m.
Monday at the district office.
To trim the budget, the district deleted three items: $1 million for
increasing coaching supplements; $317,000 for overtime for
non-certified employees; and $232,000 to reduce student fees. The
district saved $2.6 million by waiting until January to begin
implementing raises called for in a salary study.
The district had planned to spread out $15.9 million in raises over
four years, with non-certified staff getting their full raises in two,
teachers and principals in three, and central administrators in four.
That's one reason board member Ray Toler opposed the spending plan. He
wanted non-certified workers, which include maintenance employees and
secretaries, to get their raises in one shot.
"The last three to four years, they've gotten nothing. We need to show
we care and make it right," said Toler, a retired maintenance foreman
for the district. "They need it more than the administrators and
teachers."
Critics and supporters of the plan say not enough of the increase goes
to the classroom.
Just 22.5 percent of the $25.8 million increase would go to new
programs, extra teachers and new library books. Another 21 percent
would pay for government-mandated salary increases, while 13 percent
would pay for non-teacher cost-of-living increases and the salary-study
raises, meant to address inequities. About 4 percent goes to the
district's charter schools, as per the state-mandated funding
calculation. The biggest single chunk, 39 percent, would help pay for
the next, three-year building program. The remaining fraction would pad
the fund balance.
Board member Susan Simons said too much of past increases went toward
fixed costs and state-mandated increases.
It's time to invest in instruction, Simons said.
"I wish we could put significantly more toward instruction, but I don't
think our community can handle that large a jump," she said.
Simons thinks salary increases support instruction, especially since
the district plans to move toward performance-based raises.
The countywide Parent Teacher Association believes the budget should be
bigger.
The budget now includes $735,000 for 10 additional classes for
4-year-olds in pre-kindergarten. The PTA wants the district to double
that to 20 extra classes to wipe out the waiting list and give more
children a head start.
Some parents want the district to fund all $720 million worth of
building needs countywide, not Goodloe-Johnson's whittled-down list of
$380 million for 28 projects.
Last week, the district initially recommended a $400 million building
program but scaled it back to $380 million after Moody complained it
included too much for unspecified contingencies.
"Do we want to reach our goals or not?" asked county PTA President
Phyllis Gildea. "Are we prepared to do the heavy lifting it takes to
get there? None of us likes to pay more taxes. But in the long run, our
community would benefit far more by a healthy economy based on a
well-educated work force."
What the $25.8 million increase will do to taxes is unclear because
this is a reassessment year for Charleston County. If reassessment
weren't a factor, property taxes would rise $155 on an average
owner-occupied house worth about $174,000, up to $650. That would
represent a 34 percent increase.
But that average home value is based on 1998 numbers. The new average
is $264,400, according to the county assessor's office.
Until last week, district officials were counting on reassessment being
delayed a year. But County Auditor Peggy Moseley said Thursday the
county plans to mail reassessment notices starting this week.
IF YOU GO
-- What: The Charleston County School District's public hearing on its
proposed 2005-06 budget
-- When: 5:15 p.m. Monday
-- Where: District headquarters, 75 Calhoun St.
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