ATLANTA --- Education funding has been hit hard in Georgia, and school systems could see even larger budget cuts, the executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association said Friday.
For six years, the state has not fully funded its formula for allotting money to schools, Herb Garrett said at the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education Media Symposium.
"The 800-pound gorilla in our room, of course, is the continuation of austerity cuts," he said. "Many outlets are reporting that cut is about $185 million this year. Well, that is what's in the budget document, but what you don't see in the budget document is that there was already a $92 million cut, almost $93 million sitting there and this is added on top of it."
By the end of the 2009-10 school year, education will have been shorted more than $2 billion in Georgia, Mr. Garrett said.
The proposed budget for the coming year also cuts the $30 million for school nurses, leaving school systems to pick up the tab, he said.
And there could be more cuts, Mr. Garrett said. The budget doesn't include the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant.
"Here's the problem: There are a number of legislative leaders who have vowed to put that back in there," he said. "Well, that's a wonderful political statement, but if you're going to put $428 million back in the budget you've got to take it from somewhere else. There is no money tree."
The money likely will come from education, which makes up the biggest part of the budget, Mr. Garrett said.
School systems are beginning to bend under the financial strain, he said. About 20 school boards could soon go into "deficit funding" -- acquiring debt to pay off another debt -- if cuts continue.
Adding to the problem is an outdated formula used to determine funding for each school system, Mr. Garrett said. The formula is based on sound ideas, but it doesn't use realistic up-to-date figures for costs of such things as textbook and maintenance and operations, he said.
Mr. Garrett has already seen school systems cutting programs, including driver's education, foreign language classes in elementary school, contributions to employee benefits and transportation for magnet schools.
The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education identified funding as a top issue to watch this year. It announced its annual top 10 list of education issues Friday.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Garrett, a lobbyist for one of the myriad of "education"-related organizations which dominate our state's legislature, regurgitates the liberal mantra, "more money." Obviously, he and his covetous lobbyist-colleagues would do well to read the Thernstrom's "No Excuses."
So much money spent(on education) for so little accomplished.(Georgia 46th ,South Carolina 49th lowest SAT) out of 50 states.
Will there ever be anyone brave enough to admit throwing money at the problem is not the answer.
http://professionals.collegeboard.com/data-reports-research/sat/cb-senio...
In Richmond County, private schools educate and graduate students at a higher percentage rate than the public school system. They not only graduate but with pretty decent GPA's, especially compared to Richmond County Public Schools. The real question is how they acomplish this goal and at the same time spend less than 50% per pupil compared to the public school system even though class sizes are reduced by as much as 35-45%. There are many fine public schools but their expense due to the way government operates anything is way out of line. Like it or not, school vouchers would allow anyone to attend a private school and get a great education and would make the public schools step up to the plate or close.
Money talks but it doesn't always make sense. Washington DC spends more money per pupil than anywhere and has terrible results. Good results depend on the family and the socioeconomic structure surrounding the student. The same kids who score well will continue to do so even with the most severe budget cuts. The ones who do poorly....you get the idea.
Comparing private and public is like comparing apples and oranges. You can not effectively compare the two without leveling the field. The private school can pick their students and also do not have the same mandates to provide (example transportation, free lunch, etc.). We need to get past comparisons and recognize their are good performingand poor performing public and private schools.
Maybe the public spends too much time in liberal indoctrination than they do in teaching the three r's. Children can get a good quality education in public schools but it takes parental involvement and the willingness to make sure your child gets what he/she needs to be successful. Private schools do not have to indoctrinate but will still not get a good educations if mom and dad are not involved. The key to success is parental involvement.
(G)-dog express is correct. Parents and other citizens should not expect schools to educate our children without their involvement- involvement characterized by BEING IN our schools and classrooms during instructional hours, not just during PTA meetings and ballgames.
Public schools can never compete with private schools. As a private school graduate and public school teacher I've experienced the best and worst of each. It's not simply a matter of stepping up. You can have the most dedicated, hard working, and qualified educators in the world and it won't make a bit of difference if the parents aren't involved. Of course a private school has more parental involvement because they're paying for it. Add to that the fact that the private school selects who gets in (often based on placement tests), has class sizes that are half the size, and can get rid of the trouble makers without jumping through hoops, and you have a formula for success. There are no magical teaching strategies going on in private schools. If anything, technology is less widespread and teaching strategies are less diverse. In many cases, no certification is even required to teach. Vouchers will do nothing to solve the issue. Many private schools will probably raise tuition to offset the voucher price. For those that don't, the influx of students will ruin the very advantages that those wanting private school seek.
AS It Is: Excellent point. You absolutely can compare private schools to the failing public school system. Parents do not become more involved in the private school system because they are paying for it - guess what teacher02 - parents also pay for the public school system - ever heard of taxes??? You see, parents send their kids to the private school system for the very reason that they want more of a say in how their kids are being taught! (You got it backwards) In addition, you make an excellent point: There is less available technology, less "diversity" in teaching strategies, outdated facilities, and some teachers are not certified by the same agencies that certify the government teachers. But guess what? With smaller budgets and all of what you think are disadvantages, the private school system continues to beat the public system year after year on the same standardized exams! It's not HOW MUCH money you pour into education, it's HOW YOU USE IT. The government schools have the same problem that every other government program (except for the military) has: government micromanagement and a huge bureacracy that tries to make every product (student) the same. Gov't is the problem
Standing Tall, you make my point for me. PARENTS, send their kids to privates school, because they want more say in how their kids are taught. Obviously, these PARENTS are more involved, thus they are willing to pay thousands of dollars extra on top of the taxes that they already pay. If every parent wanted more say in how their children were taught, then we wouldn't have the problems that we do in public school. In regards to why the private schools continue to beat the public schools, it really is very simple. If I can choose who gets in my classroom, have class sizes that are half the size, get rid of those who are causing trouble, and have an active parent involved in the child's education, then I will gladly compare my results to private schools. The point about private schools succeeding with less (teaching strategies, money, technology, education requirements) does not point to some superior management on the part of the private school. It points to a difference in clientelle, of which the public school system has no control over.
By the way, I recognize the number of problems with the public school system. NCLB was a monumental education failure and has actually hindered education progress (by pandering to the low achiever and misfit). And I absolutely disagree with the effort to fit every student into the same mold. As I have stated multiple times before, there is a need to branch education after the middle grades into technical or further academic training. Currently, the future graduate of a prestigious college shares the same classroom and curriculum with the student who will likely drop out. Both students should have options that are better reflective of their future goals.
"The private school can pick their students and also do not have the same mandates to provide (example transportation, free lunch, etc.)."--- Those mandates to provide freebies to kids have no place in schools. Maybe IF the govt would learn and practice what the private schools DO, they could get similar results. Private schools work because they're a privilege. Public schools don't work because they're an entitlement.
ITDoc, your statement "Public schools don't work because they're an entitlement", is very true. There is no consequence to failing a grade because students can simply retake it for free (often with incentives for passing it the second time). In many European countries, secondary education is valued because you have to earn your way there. If you perform poorly in the middle grades you are sent to learn a vocation. Unfortunately, the U.S. school system is moving in the opposite direction.
Public school is a fairly new concept and it has failed. Time to dump it and use the methods that work as have been discussed here. You can't stop generational curses in someone else's life. When they choose to stop it the problem is solved. Parents who don't care create children who don't care. Dollars don't fix generational curses.
As long as the RCBOE continues to act like they work for Dr. Bedden and not the other way around, we will have continual problems. It amazes me that this guy comes in, hires a bunch of high paid assistants and still can't explain simple things like school buss purchases, without double talk. BTW read about the school bus investigation in the MetroSpirit. If this guy worked for a fast food chain, he would have been out on his [filtered word] long ago. I still do not understand why we have no SINGLE point of contact at the BOE to answer any questions about education. Just look at their web site, they can't even get it to work and yet the elected officials continue to heap praises upon this broken system.
We have several students in our schools who have serious medical problems. You have diabetics, asthmatics, children with heart and kidney disease. I have not even touched the number of kids who also take medication for ADHD and other behavior disorders.
We need our nurses in our schools; we need more than what we have. Sometimes, the only medical person our children see is the nurse at school. I heard this stated by a superintendent and he is absolutely correct.
Will the teachers or principals risk a law suit trying to give insulin and other medications to our students?
Wake up Georgia!! We have a Replubican in office who want to hurt us hard and leave a mess for our next president. Once its law, its hard to undo. Read a copy of Roberts rule of order. Our teachers need more money;we even need more teachers in our system. We don't need to cut the nurses by some 30 million. I pray that someone on the budget committee will use some common sense.
Did any of these people have kids or grandchildren in the public school system?
I am ashame to know that we have a governor to even mention such a large cut. All in that office couldn't possibly feel the same and if they do, may God have mercy on all of us.
Conerned: I believe God quit having mercy on our schools when we kicked Him out instead of the dead weight students and parents.
The last interaction I had with a nurse, she wasn't allowed to give injections, dispense prescription medicines and even take a kids temperature. Basicallty what she could do was call the parents and have them come and pick up the kid. Has that changed?
teach02: O.K. Good points.
I am all about parents being in the classrooms and involved during other times and not just PTA meetings and such, but you show me how many stay at home moms there are compared to just 5 - 10 years ago. It takes two incomes to make and these days you are VERY lucky to have two incomes with people losing their jobs. So with both parents working, how and when can they be at the schools to be involved with education. I am all for that, and I am very involved with my children and their schools and I work, I stay in contact with their teachers and other educators. Not to mention the fact that you now have parents probably working two jobs to make ends meet. Our leaders need to realize the importance of education and our future, our children. Until that happens and until we push them out and get new ones in we will not see that happen. Gas prices are down, so they aren't spending that much on diesel as they were, they should start to see a difference, if prices from suppliers are going up, then it is time to start searching for new ones, or revisiting the contracts. It is not and does not take rocket science to determine that or to make that decision. Step up now or suffer later!!!
ITDoc- The schools are doing just fine up North. I wish all kids could experience the schools we did in Vermont. Also, "God" isn't a part of schools up there AND....it is hardly part of the community up there. Yet....the crime rate was lower and the schools were much better. Hoping for God to fix schools while you sit back and do nothing is a good way to allow the schools down here to rate at the bottom of the 50 states. Way to go!
Not sure where you are, but school nurses here in South Ga give injections. administer medications, triage and assess all students , staff and even parents and their complaints, We teach parents and staff regarding certain medical conditions and medications, we collaborate with staff , physicians, and parents regarding students Individual health plans, we teach CPR and AED use, We now have students in our schools with ventilators, trachs, and catheters and are prepared to care for these students. We assist with resources for those students requiring specialized medical care and vision/hearing impaired students, Who is going to take care of these students now?
why not suspend all athletic programs on school that do not graduate 65-75% of their senior class and fails to reach ayp. that will save schools a lot of money
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