Local Budget Request
On April 21, the Board of Education approved a budget request to the county that includes a base budget of $177.8 million and a supplement of $33.5 million.
If granted by the County Commissioners, the supplement would provide 215 new school-based positions, an audit of the Central Office, more supplies for maintenance, technology, and instructional support, and more months of employment for assistant principals, athletic directors, counselors, and more.
With the base budget, the district will maintain non-personnel costs and EC costs at the same level. It would also add nine new assistant principals and nine new EC teacher assistants. Central Office hiring will remain frozen except for a few mission critical positions and some positions at schools would be reduced due to declining enrollment.
Staff Changes
Even without the supplement, WS/FCS will prioritize retaining all current employees. District leaders plan to offer any employee whose position is cut another role, although it may require moving to a new location, class type, or grade level.
While WS/FCS has made progress on its finances this year, some cuts will still be necessary due to loss of funding. Decreased enrollment has led to a reduction of about $11.5 million in state funding, and federal funding has shrunk by about $3.5 million. The district’s outstanding debt sits at $4 million and will be paid off by the end of the next school year.
Even under the base budget request, the district would use county, federal, grants and flexible state funds would pay for 129% more assistant principals, 105% more EC staff, 26% more mental health and instructional support staff, and 10% more teachers than the typical state allotments for those positions.
Next Steps
The county will hold a public budget hearing on May 18 to hear public input on funding requests, including the district’s request. WS/FCS must approve a full budget by June 30.