SUPERINTENDENT DR. ROGER DEARING
CALLS FOR SHARED SACRIFICE

(Bradenton, FL - April 18, 2008) Due to an unprecedented reduction in sales tax revenues and other factors, the state legislature has had to reduce funding for some of Florida´s most fundamental public services, including education.

To adjust for these reductions, the Manatee School District has already been forced to cut $8.7 million from its operating budget for this school year (2007-2008). Other than a cut of $244,000, the district was able to shield schools from the budget cuts for 2007-2008.

For the 2008-2009 school year, the Manatee District is faced with budget cuts of approximately $21 million. To prepare for those cuts, the district developed a list of $28 million in possible cuts to produce a balanced budget. In addition, district officials have been seeking the input from district employees at all levels, and from the public, on how to best achieve these budget reductions. Manatee District Superintendent Dr. Roger Dearing and other district staff are evaluating this input and finalizing a recommendation for the Manatee County School Board, which will make the final decision on how these cuts will be implemented.

Included in the $28 million in possible cuts for 2008-2009, is a potential reduction in funds for schools of $8.7 million. The average cut for an elementary school would be $125,000, for a middle school $165,000, and for a high school $360,000. School leadership teams were asked to submit a plan on how these cuts would be made if this option us ultimately implemented. Unfortunately, if cuts of this magnitude are implemented it will lower the level of service to students in Manatee County Schools and would force layoffs of 300 to 400 employees.

To avoid layoffs this large and the resulting reduction in services, Dr. Dearing is calling on all district employees to share in the sacrifice and is recommending that district employees take an across the board reduction in pay.

At the April 28th School Board meeting, Dr. Dearing will ask the School Board to approve a reduction in pay to district administrators and non-bargaining hourly employees. District and school administrators´ pay will be reduced by 7.5%. Administrators included in this 7.5% salary reduction are district administrators in pay level D-12 and above, principals and assistant principals. Other district supervisory personnel and non-bargaining hourly employees pay will be reduced by 5%. These salary reductions will be effective July 1, 2008.

At the same time, district officials will ask both unions to come to the table and bargain reductions in salary in order to avoid school employee layoffs.

“Negotiation of salary reductions to union employees is a key to this plan because the vast majority of resources are at school sites and we all must share in the sacrifice to maintain services to students,” Dr. Dearing said.

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