Manatee County Schools Budget Cuts

By John Chambliss
THE LEDGER
Published: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 2:27 p.m.

BARTOW - Polk County School District officials sent a letter to employees Tuesday urging them to ask their state legislators to stop cuts to education funding.

“It is estimated schools will face an additional 10 percent reduction, which for Polk County is $60 million to $65 million,” wrote Polk Superintendent Gail McKinzie and School Board Chairman Frank O´Reilly. “To avoid such a devastating situation, it is important that you communicate prior and during the March regular session with our legislative delegation as well as others in leadership positions in the House and Senate the need to strongly consider additional revenue sources.”

To save money, the district has frozen 190 positions, eliminated employee raises this year, cut travel expenses and required all middle and high schools to have seven class periods per day.

McKinzie said they also sent the letter to tell employees there will be no further cuts this school year.

During talks about the budget in Tuesday´s School Board meeting, McKinzie reminded people that no employees, including herself, received a raise.

“None of our staff got any pay increases,” McKinzie said.

She added that she did not receive a bonus.

Board member Lori Cunningham said she hopes state lawmakers will work to reduce cuts to education.

“We´re saddened that we are in this financial situation,” Cunningham said. “My hope and prayer as the session begins in March is that the government and cabinet will work expeditiously to ensure that we will have adequate funding in the fall.”

The letter says there are no plans to close any schools in the 2009-10 school year.

“I want to reiterate that there is no recommendation to the School Board that the district close any traditional, magnet, or choice school,” the letter said. “The district has not experienced any appreciable decline in enrollment that triggers such an action.”

McKinzie said other districts like Pinellas, Volusia and Miami-Dade are faced with declining enrollments and have closed schools.

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