Axe Central Office jobs before cutting teaching positions

I'll have to hand it to Oz...she is a bold character.

In fact, for the first time this year, the word "layoffs" came from chief financial officer Sharon "Oz" Ozment's mouth...but not in a good light.

The News & Record reports that during a discussion in the middle of a school board retreat this past weekend, Oz said that even teacher layoffs or class size increases aren't enough to offset the predicted state budget shortfall.

So why is it even being mentioned?

N&R:

School administrators say even extreme measures, such as laying off teachers or increasing the number of students in each classroom, are unlikely to cut enough from Guilford County Schools' budget to offset the predicted state budget shortfall.

The word from Raleigh is that the budget may lose between 3 and 7 percent, or $11.3 to $26.4 million, Chief Financial Officer Sharon Ozment told the Board of Education during its retreat Saturday.

Increasing the maximum class size by one student per class in nine grade levels would lay off 126 teachers but only eliminate $6.3 million from the district's budget.

Ozment said she provided that information to illustrate that even cutting from the school district's largest budget responsibility - personnel - would not make up for the losses from a 3 percent budget cut.

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It's not bad enough that school districts across the country are in the same predicament and are starting to layoff personnel--so much for that so-called nationwide teacher shortage!

But here in Guilford County, where waste is GCS' middle name, here's a thought...try cutting Central Office staff! GCS is way too top heavy. This district will start seeing immediate savings by axing about half of Central Office. We have too many administrators and management..,.too many micro-managers. And what do we have to show for all this management downtown? Our schools continue to be under-performing.

Board chairman Alan Duncan effectively said personnel cuts are the last thing on his radar scope, but Duncan is easily swayed by others...I'm not so sure if he won't be swayed on this issue. I hope he isn't.

N&R:

Chairman Alan Duncan emphasized that if it came down to drastic budget cuts, then personnel cuts would be made to empty positions and through attrition, not laying off teachers.

"Our people are very important to us," Duncan said. "Looking out for our existing employees who are doing excellent work for us will always be a top priority."

Duncan said the budget cuts could create issues with the state's mandates on classroom size.

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But Duncan probably wouldn't go along with a cut in Central Office staff either.

Folks, this budget problem is going to get worse before it gets any better. And I'll be interested to see if this issue comes up during tomorrow night's Dog & Pony Show...excuse me, Strategic Plan unveiling...or if it comes up during this Thursday's Board meeting.

But here again is another example of our children suffering because our state legislature failed to do its job.

E.C. :)