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SPECIAL REPORT--BALANCING THE BUDGET
During the past
few months school districts have been working diligently to align their revenues
and expenditures for 2008-2009. One of the general sessions at the annual
Florida Educational Negotiators Conference was devoted to a discussion about
budget reduction measures being taken by the school districts across the state.
A list of items under consideration has been compiled for the benefit of FEN
members. The purpose of generating the list is to give districts ideas
which they may wish to use in their deliberations over the summer and through
next year in balancing budgets.
Obviously, many
items on this list are subject to the collective bargaining process.
Individual items may be more “politically charged” in some districts while
being more acceptable in others. Some unions may demand to negotiate the
impact of privatization while others may not. Some reductions may be
viewed as benefits by the union, which are subject to negotiations. Do
your homework before a declaration of “financial urgency” is made.
Exercise extreme caution in reducing or depleting contingency reserves,
especially to fund recurring expenditures.
1.
Close schools
2.
Delay opening new schools 3.
If feasible, add on to
schools instead of building new ones 4.
Return alternative
discipline students to home schools 5.
Eliminate the seven-period
day in secondary schools 6.
Eliminate block scheduling 7.
Reduce magnet school
budgets 8.
Increase elementary school
physical education class sizes 9.
Increase gifted class
sizes 10.
Increase alternative
education class sizes 11.
Eliminate all but required
summer school classes 12.
Change school start and
end times 13.
Consolidate bus stops 14.
Utilize strategies to
maximize FTE counts 15.
Reduce discretionary
budgets for schools 16.
Eliminate busing not
required by law 17.
Shorten athletic seasons 18.
Reduce junior
varsity/freshman athletic schedules 19.
Close facilities during
winter and spring breaks 20.
Eliminate lawn maintenance
contracts 21.
Implement energy savings
strategies 22.
Remove personal electrical
appliances 23.
Discontinue the scheduled
purchase of band uniforms 24.
Eliminate or reduce media
and clerical assistants 25.
Reduce the number of other
non-teaching personnel 26.
Eliminate or reduce
technology coaches 27.
Reduce the number of
school counselors 28.
Reduce the number of
psychologists 29.
Eliminate or reduce
reading coaches 30.
Reduce the number of
school deans 31.
Eliminate district
administrative positions 32.
Offer early retirement to
district administrators 33.
Return district staff to
school positions 34.
Eliminate salary bonuses
for administrators 35.
Eliminate or reduce out of
district travel 36.
Reduce field trips and
supplies 37.
Eliminate wellness
programs 38.
Do not adopt new textbooks 39.
Eliminate outside
consultants 40.
Transfer property
insurance payments to the capital fund 41.
Review workers
compensation claims 42.
Increase indirect costs
from the school lunch program 43.
Increase school facility
rental fees 44.
Non-renew extended DROP
participants 45.
Non-renew annual contract
teachers 46.
Privatize custodial
services and/or transportation 47.
Eliminate district white
fleet vehicle take home practice 48.
Review cell phone
expenditures and privileges 49.
Eliminate or restrict
overtime pay 50.
Reduce paid in-service
time 51.
Reduce contract lengths 52.
Reduce hours for
non-instructional personnel 53.
Shift a portion of health
insurance premiums to employees 54.
Reduce health insurance
benefits 55.
Increase student contact
time for secondary teachers 56.
Increase student contact
time for elementary teachers 57.
Reduce supplemental pay 58.
Freeze salaries 59.
Negotiate salary
reductions 60.
Negotiate bonuses in lieu
of steps or salary increases 61.
Deplete contingency
reserves This information
is provided with the understanding that FSLRS is not engaged in rendering legal
service. If legal advice or assistance is required in determining the
legality of pursuing any of the line items listed above, contact your attorney.
Max L. Schmidt
Executive
Director