A look at the education budget cuts

Lawmakers in Tallahassee have hammered out a proposed $71-billion budget, and will sit on it for three days as required by law before voting on it Friday.

Here's the basics of what the cuts look like for K-12 and higher education:

$268-million less in per-student funding for K-12 students, or about $100 less per child.

$930,000 less for private colleges and universities

$31-million less for community colleges

$84-million less for state universities

Universities would get $4-million in performance-based money, to be doled out based on which institutions have the best graduation rates, etc. They also would be able to raise tuition starting in January by 5 percent, to $77.39 per credit hour. That's about $55 a semester, just what the Board of Governors voted to do last month. And there's a push among lawmakers to automatically boost tuition each year to match inflation. Note that this wouldn't really change the status quo for universities, which - until the governor's veto this year - have raised tuition by between 3 and 7 percent each year.

That still leaves Florida at the bottom compared to other state university systems.

Comments

[terminator]

Florida districts will survive and the classroom/teachers/students won't feel the cuts.
Now for the fatboys at the district offices, time to tuck in that belt and I told you guys "no more creampuffs"!
You're all going on Jenny Craig.

Termie,

Is it true that the Legislature played a game to claim that they were funding CSR costs out of GR? Is it true that the recurring costs for CSR went up by $581 million? How much additional recurring revenue was provided for the FEFP (remember to subtract out the non-recurring revenue)? Does this meet the letter or spirit of the CSR language that requires that the Legislature (not the districts through local property taxes) must pay for the costs of CSR?

You are smoking crack to think that the "fat cats" are going to take this cut? How much of a cut will the new Commissioner take versus Dr. Winn? My guess is that he will take an increase in the range of 20% per year.

It is leaders like you that are taking the rank and file to the cleaners. CSR will suck up all the money for salaries, and you are letting the Legislature off the hook for paying for it.

Who would have guessed that Ken Meek would disappear when his amendment started to hurt the system? Only anyone who knew him.

[terminator]

8:59
I don't know about Pinellas but I suspect they've got some fat to cut in the bureaucratic ranks, as do: Hillsborough, Orange, Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Duval etc., etc.
Having worked at the local district level, union and state DOE, I think I've got a pretty good grasp on things.
Not to say the legislature doesn't use some slight of hand trickery (and the state % of total GR for K-12 has steadily declined while the load has been shifted to locals through the RLE) but I've witnessed first hand the waste and incompetence at the local level.
I've never seen so many deputy supt's, assistant supt's., associate supt's, region supt's, district directors, region directors, teachers on special assignment, program specialists, etc. in all my born days.
Class size is the best thing that ever happened to public education in the state of Florida. If class size had never been passed these local bureaucracies would still be pissing money down the drain left and right all the while whining about how much money they don't have.
CSR and the budget downtown have put these guys (locals) into a financial straight jacket which is only going to get tighter in the next several years, as Florida's economy continues to sink into recession.
This has forced bloated local school districts to cut the budget where they least want to (administration).
DOE could put plenty of deadwood out to pasture without sacrificing any efficiency. How many of these old goats are on DROP and just biding their time performing useless functions over at the Turlington Building?
I used to see them head for hills come 3-4 pm in the afternoon.
Unfortunately, the current fiscal situation may make it difficult for districts to afford teacher raises but they'll be forced to make some tough budgetary decisions which will work in the teachers favor. Not too many Florida taxpayers are sympathetic of school districts who complain they don't have enough money. The failure to give even nominal 3-4% cost of living raises would be met with an uproar.
I think next year the rubber's going to meet the road. Budget cuts, required CSR appropriations, teacher raises, MAP, propety taxes and insurance are all coming together to create the perfect storm.

PS By the way, John Winn never had a doctorate, ABD (all but dissertation).
Kendrick has been a Congressman for the past several years as you are well aware. He's moved on to frying bigger fish.

Termie provides no answers to the questions asked, so I'll ask some more questions.

Is it true that Florida provides one of the lowest per student funding rates in the country? If true, why attack the "fat cats" because they would surely be "fatter" working for a district up North?

There was only about $250 million in recurring GR increases while CSR costs $581 million more than last year. It is the property tax payers that are paying for this boondoggle. Thanks, Termie and the FEA.

Class size is the best thing to happen to education . . . (wait I just choked on my words)? Any proof? No? No? Still, No? I sometimes see you ask for research based evidence. I guess that is only when the reform costs less than $27 billion. In addition, since the Legislature has reneged on actually funding it as required, all the property tax payers in the State will pick up the difference.

Since you won't like answering these questions, you might want to consider answering the previous ones.

[John]

Sometimes the best way to answer a question is to ask another. But, I will attempt to answer one of your questions. CSR addresses the fact that society has changed since "we" were in schol 50 years ago. There are issues today that were not around 50 years ago. I agree that the legislature has dropped the ball on funding CSR. The latest round of adjustments in education has prompted a number of teachers to seek employment elsewhere. I do not like, nor think it educationally sound, the fact that I am teaching more kids this year in more classes than I have ever taught. I still do not understand how the revenues for Florida are taking a hit since taxes are being paid at outlandish rates for new sales and the current homeowners are still paying the same amount of taxes. 1 + 3 = less money in the tax collectors office?

[terminator]

10:35
I believe I did agree with you on some of those things (quote regarding the legislature using slight of hand).
Sure they haven't fully funded it but it's like dragging an elephant (or school district administrator) away from the buffet table.
Progress is being made. Class sizes have been coming down. I see it everyday in the schools I visit.
The teachers are ecstatic they're not being forced to put up with 37-40-42 kids a class anymore with chump change for raises.
They might be getting chump change for raises now but at least there's some measure of sanity in the classroom and alot less stress.
Are you saying if we didn't have the CSA the state or districts would spend the extra money on teacher salaries?
If you believe that I've got some land I can sell you.
Does it work? Is there any empirical evidence? We can only surmise as much as whether or not FCAT and A+ work.
NAEP scores are up. Who or what's responsible is anyone's guess.
The R's will tell you the most important criteria is the teacher. Maybe, maybe not. Do you have any empirical evidence to substantiate that?
I doubt it.
Maybe both have played a role.
Yes, the legislature has underfunded education but you and I both know there's still plenty of fat to be cut from the local districts and DOE.
I like what's been happening. It is FORCING school district bureaucracies to become much more accountable, something that never happened under the D's.