Teachers raises put in check

This isn't exactly about the school cops, but shows us what is on the horizon.

Schools chief lowers sights on teacher raises
By CHRISTINA DeNARDO
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Facing what could become a $60 million budget shortfall next year, Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Art Johnson said teacher raises next year will be far less than in the past.

"We can be looking at little or nothing," Johnson said during an interview with The Palm Beach Post's editorial board Monday morning.
Johnson has been resisting commenting on the impact of the budget cuts until the end of March when students are finished taking the FCAT.

Though the impact of next year's budget cuts is not clear, the district already has had to make cuts to balance this year's budget - twice. In the fall, the district cut $9 million from its budget because of declining state revenue, but a hiring freeze on non-teachers and an unexpected increase in student enrollment helped make up the difference. Recently, the district's budget director proposed restricting most out-of-county travel, extending a non-teacher hiring freeze to include teacher aides and cutting non-salary department budgets by 10 percent to cut an additional $15.5 million.

Those moves are not expected to make a huge impact on the classroom. But next year the district could face an even bigger problem: a smaller budget. Despite this year's cuts, schools still got more money, but next year budgets are expected to decline for the first time since the 1991-1992 school year.

Lawmakers need to cut $2.7 billion from next year's spending after economists last week lowered their expectations of how much money the state will bring in from tax collections.

Gov. Charlie Crist has urged the legislature to dip into reserves as a temporary bailout, but legislators have not embraced the idea.

Under the best-case scenario, the district will need to cut $35 million, but that could rise to $60 million if revenues continue to decline. "The sky is not falling but we are going to tighten our belts," Johnson said. "I am doing everything I can do to avoid layoffs."

Last year, the district struggled to give raises, relying on $20 million intended to lower class sizes. Though the pay for first-year teachers rose 7 percent to $36,100, raises were much lower for most teachers. Many got 3.5 percent, and those at the top of the salary schedule received $1,000, angering many educators who thought they deserved better.

Negotiations between the district and the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association have not begun, but in last year's bargaining union officials insisted the district could dip into its $40 million savings account to pay for raises.

To help balance next year's budget, Johnson is also applying for a pilot program that would allow some school districts more authority on how they spend money. Much of what the district receives from the state must be spent on certain things, such as reading programs and class-size reductions.

"That will help us but even if not, we can balance the budget," he said

Next year we will be offered negative two percent, and they will try to tell us were getting a deal!!

We have been getting negative raises for the last few years. If the cost of living is 4.8% and they offer a 2% raise that is a 2.8% cut in salary. This has been going on for the last 4-5 years. I plan on voting HECK NO! on Friday.

I HAVE CREATED A MYSPACE SITE FOR PARENTS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SUPPORTSCHOOLPOLICE