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SD 26 Protests Budget In regards to the preliminary budget for 2007-2008, Community District Education Council [26] has consulted with Principals, Administrators, and Department of Education personnel and has the following comments: 1. All schools in our District have received more in their preliminary budget this year. This is a result of the additional funding under the Children First program, which might not be available again. 2. Twenty-two of our schools receive less money under the new budget formula ("FSF") than under the old approach. If it was not for the "Hold Harmless" funding, these schools would be receiving from $14,218 to $651,89 less money this year. 3. This reduction in funding under the new formula is primarily due to the charging of schools for the average teacher salary. 4. It is not fair to charge a school for the teacher's salary. As one Principal explained, the contract with teachers was not negotiated with any Principal present, it is thus wrong to saddle the Principal with paying the salary. Also, as a general matter, there is nothing unfair or inequitable in a system that provides for the funding of all teachers' salaries without any school based budget consequences. CDEC 26 has expressed its negative views on this formula in other forums and it is not necessary to go into further detail. 5. However, since the formula is being used, we ask that the hold harmless money be extended beyond two years. Based on the budget figures, our schools would face dramatic cuts if teacher salaries are not in some way subsidized or passed through to the Department of Education. 6. Four schools receive more funding under the new approach than under the old approach. Three schools will receive less than $50,000 more and one will receive about $140,000 more. While this additional money is appreciated, it is not justified given the potential upheaval in our other 22 schools. 7. The weighted formula should provide more money to enrich our academically successful students. 8. The weighted formula should provide designated money for providing art, music and physical education programs. 9. For the last three years the DOE has been paying for the maintenance of copy machines at schools. This allowed schools and PTAs/PAs to allocate the large sum of money in more educational ways. Under the new budget system, schools will again be responsible for paying for the maintenance of copy machines. We believe this is not appropriate and the budget should continue to provide additional and designated funding to enable schools to pay for copy machine service contracts.
Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to comment on this year's preliminary budget. We look forward to an ongoing process that will provide our children in District 26 and the entire city with the funding necessary for a sound education. |
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