For Your Information
Vol. 20, No. 16
August 29, 2008
Click here for past issues of the For Your Information newsletter.
EDUCATION BUDGET CUTS LIKELY IN 2009,
PICTURE FOR 2010 LOOKS BLEAK
At Thursday’s state Board of Education work session for K-12, state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton stopped short of a complete “doom and gloom” forecast for 2010, saying it’s difficult to predict Alabama’s fiscal future with any certainty.
Still, he and Craig Pouncey, assistant state superintendent for finance and administration, took a stab at forecasting the financial situation in 2009 and 2010.
It doesn’t look good.
Even in 2009, Alabama could face cuts to its $6.3 billion education budget if revenue growth continues to come in far below budget estimates. So far for this year, the growth rate has been 1.28 percent. The ’08 budget is based on more than 4 percent growth. The fiscal year ends Sept. 30.
In addition, education’s $448 million savings — the statutory Proration Prevention Account — has been practically exhausted to help float the 2008 budget.
Morton outlined two ways to lessen the impact of a projected $176 million shortfall in 2009 for K-12 schools alone — tapping the constitutional Rainy Day Fund if Gov. Bob Riley were to declare proration and/or a positive nod from voters on Amendment 1 in November.
On Nov. 4, voters will go to the polls and determine whether to repeal and reestablish the Education Trust Fund Rainy Day Account and to create for the first time a General Fund Rainy Day Account. Amendment 1 would unlock the Rainy Day Fund set at 6 percent of the 2002 budget — about $248 million — and allow the fund to be based on 6.5 percent of the “previous year’s” budget. The constitutional amendment would also allow the rainy day loan to be repaid over six years, rather than five.
“If it doesn’t pass, then we’re almost assured that we would tap into what could be obtained out of the current constitutional amendment, and there wouldn’t be enough to avoid proration,” Morton said. “When proration hits, it’s devastating for years.”
While some education watchdogs question the long-term impact of the potentially flawed amendment, Morton strongly supports it.
“It’s an opportunity to try to catch us up and make the loan capability be current,” Morton said. He also fears, “we’re going to have all the academic momentum we’ve created come to a grinding halt, particularly in some systems.” That momentum, he said, includes recent reports of improved student performance on ACT, SAT and Advanced Placement tests.
For 2010, Pouncey estimated a $150 million increase in the benefits cost. If the economy is still lagging and Amendment 1 does not pass, Morton expects devastation.
“We could be looking at mammoth cuts in the 2010 budget, and there would virtually be no way to get through it. We’d be without a real safety net,” Morton said.
Also Thursday, the board heard about the slight impact recent legislative decisions have had on the state education budget. One provision gives school boards the flexibility to take 20 percent of state funds that were allocated for a specific expense and use it instead for another expense. At-risk student funding will be based on the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test rather than the SAT. To better anticipate growth, average daily membership over three years — rather than two years — will be used to calculate current units.
In addition, the board learned more about the state’s plan to align library media programs with national standards and guidelines to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.
As an aside, Morton also mentioned the state’s move toward the new national graduation rate formula. Alabama’s plan is to use the new method in 2009 and to release that information to the public in early 2010.
The board meets again Sept. 11.
All-State Nominees Due Oct. 1
AASB is once again bestowing its highest award upon current or past board members who have shown exemplary boardmanship. AASB’s coveted All-State School Board Member recognition award will be presented at the association’s annual convention in December. Nomination materials have been mailed to superintendents and board presidents and are due by Oct. 1. For details, contact Debora Hendricks, dhendricks@alabamaschoolboards.org.
Media Honor Roll Due Oct. 17
AASB is accepting nominations through Oct. 17 for its annual Education Media Honor Roll. School boards can name as many reporters, editors, editorial writers and entire news organizations as they wish to the roll. A board resolution must be passed and submitted along with the application. For details, contact Donna Norris, dnorris@alabamaschoolboards.org.
Plan to Attend District Meetings
AASB’s Fall 2008 District Meetings will feature a discussion on “Cyberspace in Our Schools: Student Issues in a Digital Environment.” The meetings are a valuable training and networking opportunity for members. In addition, the President’s Award will be presented to school boards that have had at least 60 percent of their members attend three or more major academy events.
Attendees will learn about Web 2.0 terms and tools; how to control social networking; questions boards should ask; and policies that address these issues. Earn one hour of School Board Member Academy credit for participating.
Mark your calendar for this valuable training and networking opportunity. The meetings will be:
▪ District 2 – Sept. 15, Ramada Inn, Selma
▪ District 1 – Sept. 16, Creek Family Restaurant, Atmore
▪ District 5 – Sept. 18, Midfield High School
▪ District 8 – Sept. 22, Decatur Holiday Inn,
Decatur
▪ District 9 – Sept. 23, Madison Schools Central Office
▪ District 7 – Sept. 25, Sheraton Capstone, Tuscaloosa
▪ District 3 – Sept. 29, Straughn High School, Andalusia
▪ District 6 – Sept. 30, Classic on Noble, Anniston
▪ District 4 – Oct. 2, Taliaferro’s Restaurant, Tuskegee
Everyone attending the conference must register. Online pre-registration is recommended. Register online at www.alabamaschoolboards.org or by calling 334/277-9700 or 800/562-0601.
AASB District Director Elections Under Way, Ballots Due in October
District director nominations are under way in AASB Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Thus far, district director nominees include: District 1- Marty Parker of Clarke County, Bill Meredith of Mobile, Stephanie Walker of Brewton City and Elaine Beech of Washington County; District 5 - Jennifer Parsons of Jefferson County; District 7 - T. Brett Whitehead of Tuscaloosa County; and District 9 - Dr. Shelia Nash-Stevenson of Madison City and Jennie Robinson of Huntsville.
Ballots listing the eligible nominees will be mailed by Oct. 1. Each board within a district gets one vote. The board president will certify that action was taken at a board meeting to choose a nominee, and the ballot must be returned to AASB by Oct. 31. If only one person is nominated, he or she automatically becomes district director. The district will be notified of the election results as soon as they are calculated.
Current district directors Patsy Black of District 1, Jeff Bailey of District 3, Susan Harris of District 7 and Laura Casey of District 9 are ineligible for reelection because they have served their two-term limit under AASB bylaws. District 5 Director Jennifer Parsons is eligible for reelection.
Register Now for
OCT. 19-20 Conference
Training opportunities in October will help school board members and superintendents enhance relationships between schools and those they serve. AASB’s fall conference is built around a core School Board Member Academy course on Leadership for Community Engagement.
Speakers include communications professionals Brian Woodland, a noted public speaker, and Tom Salter of Montgomery Public Schools. In addition, gauge the public pulse about K-12 education from Gerald Johnson of the Capital Survey Research Center and community activist Carolyn Akers of the Mobile Area Education Foundation. Dr. David Bronner, CEO of The Retirement Systems of Alabama, will discuss the value of visionary leadership.
The conference will be Oct. 19-20 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa in downtown Montgomery, Ala. Pre-registration for members is $125. The cost for non-members is $250. Though the conference pre-registration deadline is Oct. 14, the hotel reservation deadline is Oct. 3. Limited rooms are available at AASB’s discounted rate.
To register or download a conference brochure, visit www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org/ConferenceInformation.htm. Contact the hotel directly at 800/468-3571 for housing info, and provide code “ASB.”
Student Performing Groups wanted
for the 2008 Annual Convention
A select number of public school performance and ROTC groups will be chosen to appear at the 2008 AASB Convention Dec. 4-6 at The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover. Groups must represent a public school or group of public schools and have school board approval to represent their system. The ROTC group will present the colors. For details, contact AASB Meeting/Marketing Coordinator Mandy Fernandez, at 800/562-0601 or mfernandez@alabamaschoolboards.org.
— Denise L. Berkhalter
publicrelations@alabamaschoolboards.org
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