Will schedule upcoming forums to hear community input
By Meagan McGone
mmcgone@hometownnewsol.com
BREVARD — Earlier this week, Brevard Public Schools released a list of proposed budget cuts, in an effort to enhance its revenue for the 2013-2014 school year.
In a list that could potentially cut more than $3.8 million from the budget and eliminate 578 positions within Brevard Public Schools, the proposed cutbacks were the Brevard County School Board’s answer to its $30-million shortfall in its budget for 2013 to 2014.
Several community forums will be scheduled in March and April to discuss the proposed cuts, according to a news release from the Brevard Public Schools website.
“The district has lost 65 percent of its capital funding (buildings, technology and buses) and with the failed half-cent sales surtax referendum, must move funds from the only other source it has – operating,” the release stated. “We have $1.8 billion in facilities to maintain and close to 500 buses. We have been deferring critical renewal needs for the past years that cannot be sustained.”
The school board said it specifically considered three significant factors in deciding where to choose potential cuts: the depth of impact on all students, the depth of impact to the staff and the amount of money associated with the proposed cut.
Below are a few of the significant proposed cuts that could be made:
Increasing class sizes to school-wide average, which may eliminate high-performing district status and early-start calendar, therefore, impacting employee pay schedules. This could eliminate more than 68 positions. The estimated savings could be more than $4.8 million.
Eliminating 69 media assistant positions. This estimated savings could be more than $1.2 million.
Eliminating a second planning period for all secondary teaching positions, which could eliminate 191 10-month teacher positions. The estimated savings could be more than $11 million.
Eliminating 57 elementary art teacher positions. The estimated savings could be more than $2.8 million.
Eliminating 59 elementary music teacher positions, which would potentially create an estimated savings of more than $2.9 million.
The full list, which can be found on the Brevard Public Schools website, contains 62 proposed cuts, including the potential of closing the doors to four Brevard Schools – a measure that will be decided on Jan. 22.
For more information, or to view the full list of proposed cuts and revenue enhancements, visit www.brevard.k12.fl.us.