Seminole County to lay off teachers, take kids lunch money to pay for budget cuts

From the Orlando Sentinel

by Dave Weber

SANFORD —– Employee layoffs, raiding construction funds, draining emergency reserves and even skimming money from the school lunch program are among options being considered by the Seminole County School Board to cover a $44 million budget cut for county schools proposed this week by Gov. Rick Scott.

But even those measures won't be enough to fill the gap, school district officials conceded Tuesday after looking at where they could trim the budget for next school year. The district has at best a $17 million hole.

Next step: Pray that the state Legislature won't go along with Scott's plan to reduce spending on public education in Florida by nearly 15 percent, officials said.

"Otherwise, you are going to see major cuts here," School Board Chairman Dede Schaffner said. "We won't have any choice."

The Seminole School Board always begins the budgeting process for the following school year early, and this year its first look at the spending plan coincided with Scott's release of his proposed state budget. On Monday, the governor called for massive cuts in state spending, with public schools getting a heavy hatchet.

John Pavelchak, head of finances for the school system, outlined how the board might begin to cover the cuts, but told the board on Tuesday that it would be tough because the easy budget reductions already have been made. The board has eliminated about $91 million in spending over the past couple of years.

"When you have had to cut like we have had to cut, where do you go?" Pavelchak said.

Among suggested cuts are eliminating 45 teaching positions, plus about $1.2 million in support personnel, with exact positions to be determined. The district also might be forced to dip into school construction funds to help with operating expenses, although just last month the board complained it had only a fraction of the money needed for school repairs.

Pavelchak said the board also could take $553,000 from the school lunch program for other uses, plus dip into textbook funds as well to meet other needs.

Tentative plans also call for drawing down emergency reserves. But Superintendent Bill Vogel said he is concerned that would leave the district with less than 2 percent of its operating budget to handle emergencies. The district typically likes to keep 6 percent or more on hand toward hurricane damages, mid-year cuts in state funding or other contingencies.

Dave Weber can be reached at dweber@orlandosentinel.com 407883-7885.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-seminole-school-budget-020911-20110208,0,5696810.story