Letter from School Board Member Beverly Slough

Today, a major announcement was made to all schools' faculties and staffs regarding budget cuts for next year.  A combination of the downturn in the economy resulting in reduced sales tax revenue, along with property tax cuts from Amendment 1 and decisions by state leadership has caused a deficit in St. Johns County of $8 million.  We are also planning for a minimum of $2 million more to be cut during the upcoming school year.

Input on how to make the reductions was received from a wide range of stakeholders.  Dr. Joyner personally met with SAC groups throughout the district to hear their suggestions, and he also appealed to the entire school district staff to give input.  Dr. Joyner shared that this is the first time in 37 years that education spending has gone backwards.  He went on to say, "it is particularly detrimental to districts such as St. Johns that continue to grow.  The cuts will affect the number of staff we can afford and the quality of services we can provide.  However, our School Board is committed to making the classroom a priority as we work through these unprecedented budget cuts."

Areas Most Affecting Students and Families

Transportation Services
Reduction in transportation services will comprise a large share of the required budget cuts.  Currently the St. Johns County School District is funded for only 60% of its transportation expenses.  The district hopes to reclaim $500,000 from its transportation budget by eliminating all out-of-zone transportation, no longer providing after school activity buses, and reducing staffing in the transportation office.  This means that we will no longer be able to provide transportation for students who attend academies, ROTC programs, gifted programs or other special programs such as IB and AICE who do not live in the school attendance zones where these programs are offered.  In addition, after school activity buses at middle and high schools will no longer be provided.

Changes in School Schedules
In an effort to make school scheduling more cost efficient, the district plans to change the middle school schedule to maximize student contact time in both core and elective classes.  With the new schedule to be instituted in August, middle schools will begin at 7:50 AM, elementary schools at 8:30 AM, and high schools at 9:15 AM.  ALL schools will observe early release on Wednesdays for the purpose of staff development, teacher planning, and conferences.  An advantage of having the same early release day for all grade levels is that it provides a consistent weekly schedule for families.  On the cost savings side, it provides time for teachers to receive training during the contract day while reducing the expense for substitute teachers.

Other areas for cuts include the following:
*25% reduction in the budgets of all district departments, including the School Board itself - $600,000
*20% reduction in the budget for each school - $400,000
*$500,000 reduction in textbooks and instructional materials.  Since the district has had success with its current elementary reading series, we have decided to continue with the same textbook series and delay the purchase of some textbooks. 
*Energy conservation, which will save $400,000
*Property/casualty insurance savings of $1,000,000
*Adjustments to staff allocations which will save $4,000,000
*Miscellaneous other reductions - $500,000

The remaining operational cuts will come in areas such as travel and 4-day summer work week.

It is our sincere hope and expectation that all staffing cuts will be handled through the natural attrition of retirements and resignations we experience annually.

While the budget reductions are severe and are anticipated to get worse, the School Board and Superintendent remain committed to protecting the instruction of the children of St. Johns County and providing safe, stable, and enriching classes for each of them to continue to learn to his/her highest potential.

We deeply regret the necessity of having to slash our budgets this deeply, but it is a situation that is out of our control.  Florida's public education system is funded 50th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia.  This is a decision that has been made by our state leaders.  There is little fat to cut due to the low level of funding that we have historically experienced.  We are now reduced to trimming meat and bone.  I am sorry.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Beverly Slough
District 1
St. Johns County School Board