Share
MONROE Union County Schools – like many other school systems in the south Charlotte suburbs – are preparing for budget shortfalls that could mean teacher layoffs, larger classes and postponing maintenance work for older schools.
“We've been able to avoid massive layoffs at this point, but our folks know that the potential is coming,” said Union schools Superintendent Ed Davis.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools have already eliminated 1,300 jobs. Officials there said last week that a bleak state budget forecast could mean hundreds more layoffs. S.C. school systems also are looking at a wide array of budget cuts.
Davis said the greatest uncertainty lies with how much money the school system will receive from the state, and forecasts do not look good. The state supplies about 65 percent of the system's funding.
So far, the Union County Public Schools – one of the fastest-growing systems in the state – has not had to lay off teachers. But if state cuts are as deep as anticipated, Davis estimates the schools could lose between 250 and 450 staff positions. About 80 percent would be teacher and teacher assistant positions.
State officials also are discussing increasing class sizes by up to three students, which could eliminate hundreds of teaching jobs in Union County, Davis said.
Davis said the state should make its school system budget decisions in mid-July or early August. That means if Union County school employees lose jobs, they won't know until a few weeks before school starts.
Davis said he's already met with county officials and is asking for $83.9 million in county money for next year. That's 3.6 percent less than the school system initially received last year. With the nation locked in recession, the Union schools already have had to return almost $11 million to county and state governments.
Here are more planned or anticipated budget cuts for the Union County schools:
A possible loss of $1.2 million from its 2008-09 capital outlay budget due to lottery money the state used to pay bills instead of allocating to schools, Davis said. That means Parkwood and Piedmont cluster schools would not get scheduled maintenance this summer, such as HVAC work, new windows, plumbing, electrical work and playground equipment.
“We've spent so much time and energy building schools, we need to focus on maintaining schools,” Davis said. “We need to make sure they are really staying up to date and in the best repair they can be in.”
A reduction in the transportation staff, including layoffs of bus mechanics and people who fuel the vehicles.
The Union County Alternative to Suspension (UCATS) program has been eliminated, although some employees were placed elsewhere. The program cost $234,000 annually, Davis said.
Some positions are not being filled when employees quit or retire, including an assistant superintendent position. Some curriculum coordinators are moving back into the classroom.
Assistant principals are working 10.5 months rather than 11 months annually, cutting two weeks of the time they spend preparing schools to open in the fall. “That one month they work in the summer is vital,” Davis said.
The three new schools that will open in the fall, Cuthbertson Middle, Cuthbertson High and Poplin Elementary, add $2.7 million to the school system's operating costs. Davis said that not opening the schools would not save money because extended warranties on the buildings, plus security and accommodating the students at other schools would cost at least that much.
