MEMPHIS/SHELBY CO: SINGLE SOURCE FUNDING SCHOOL PLAN GETS SHELBY BOARD'S OK IN PRINCIPILE

The Commercial Appeal ^ | 4/26/02 | Katherine Cromer

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School plan gets Shelby board's OK in principle Specifics to be negotiated later

By Katherine Cromer cromer@gomemphis.com April 26, 2002

The Shelby County School Board on Thursday unanimously endorsed the principles spelled out in the comprehensive school funding reform agreement, but stopped short of approving the document down to the letter.

The board had intended to pass a resolution to "endorse and recommend full implementation" of the document.

But some members' questions about - or objections to - elements of the plan led the board to agree to the principles and reserve the right to negotiate the details.

Thursday's vote makes the board the first local legislative body to sign off on the plan, which would dramatically change the way both the Memphis and Shelby County school systems do business.

All or part of the plan also will need the approval of the County Commission, Memphis City Council, Memphis Board of Education, state legislature and federal courts.

The historic funding reform plan was crafted behind closed doors by a task force created by Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton.

Herenton, a former city schools superintendent, has said he supports the plan and intends to lobby the school boards and other government bodies to help ensure its approval.

The plan calls for drastic changes, including the creation of permanent district boundaries, single-source funding for operations, the creation of a Shelby County special school district and the establishment of an early childhood education program in Memphis schools.

"We all understand what the problems in public education are," said board chairman David Pickler. "This document is a framework for reform."

"This document bothers me," said board member Joe Clayton, who said he continued to grapple with "more questions with no answers."

Clayton questioned the prudence of the plan's call to create permanent boundaries for both districts.

Ron Lollar, too, voiced concerns with a blanket approval.

"I agree with the document, or something like it," he said. "I 100 percent agree with the basic concept of what's been done here. There's input and there's changes that can take place."

While the county board sees the potential for great benefits to its students, members of the Memphis City School Board have found fault with the plan.

They disagree with several points in the plan, saying it neglects the city's capital needs and deprives the school system of funding.

Pickler said he is looking to have an "open dialog" with the Memphis board, perhaps even a joint meeting of the two boards to discuss the plan.

"We want to work together for the betterment of both systems," Pickler said.

"It all begins - and potentially could end - with the two school boards. Now is not the time for rhetoric or political posturing. It's the time to move forward."

- Katherine Cromer: 529-6498

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Best-case budget still bleeds red ink for Shelby schools

By Katherine Cromer cromer@gomemphis.com April 26, 2002

The Shelby County School Board has approved a best-case-scenario budget for next year - and it's almost $25 million out of balance.

The worst case leaves board members speechless - the prospect that funding cuts from state government could send the budget even more into the red.

Board members spent several weeks whittling down what they say was already a no-frills budget for fiscal year 2002-03. It now goes to the County Commission.

Before unanimously approving the $276.8 million budget - revenue is expected to be about $252 million - board members agreed to not even ask the commission for more than $3 million needed to fund 73 new personnel positions.

The budget, though, does ask for 150 new positions and a 3 percent raise for all employees. The budget neither adds nor cuts instructional programs.

Projected revenue is about 1 percent up from the current year's budgeted revenue. However expenditures are expected to go up about 9 percent.

Still unknown is whether a possible $400 million state education funding cut will become reality. Should that happen, Shelby County could see an $18 million shortfall in projected state revenue.

"There are a lot of wishes within this budget and a lot of assumptions," said Harold Waldon, the county schools' assistant superintendent over business operations. "This budget assumes the Basic Education Program is fully funded. If the state doesn't fully fund the BEP, then all bets are off, and we're in terrible shape."

Waldon is already anticipating a $4 million shortfall in projected revenue from the state. The district's available reserve funds can't even cover that.

The district for the past several years has anticipated large deficits at budget time, but this year is different.

The district had to cut music, art and physical education teachers last year. Board members haven't even discussed potential cuts for next year should the state not come through with funding.

"We think it's going to be quite injurious to Shelby County, and to all the districts in the state," board chairman David Pickler said.

The new employees cut from the requested budget would have included a security coordinator, a director of middle schools, a communication supervisor and a director of leadership and accountability. Also cut was funding for eight special education teachers, 12 special education assistants and 29 teachers for gifted students.

The State Board of Education is scheduled to vote today on a new standard of special education and gifted caseload and class size requirements that could mean Shelby County would have to hire more than 50 new instructors.

There are only about 150 teachers with special education training set to graduate from state institutions in May, said Supt. Bobby Webb.

"Whether we have the money in the budget or not, the reality is that number of special education teachers will not be able to be found by this district or any other," Webb said.

If necessary, Webb said, the county would ask the state to allow teachers not certified in special ed to teach it until certified teachers are hired.