BC Schools facing a $905,000 shortfall for the 2012-13 school year

Thu, 02/09/2012 - 7:51am — Diane Dyer

The Butler County School District has some tough decisions to make.Facing an approximate $905,000 deficit for the 2012-2013 school year, several employees - classified and certified (teachers) have already been told they will most likely not have a job next school year.

According to Superintendent Scott Howard, the school district has been overspending by about $200,000 for the past few years.

“We had a surplus of $2.4 million and decided to allow the district to overspend in lieu of cutting employees.We were hoping the economy would improve and things would turn around,” said Howard.

What was not expected was a mid-year cut from the state of $380,000 in SEEK funding, the state formula that funds local districts. The district has also been told there will be an additional $325,000 cut in state funding for next year.

This combination of reduction of state funding and overspending locally has created an estimated $905,000 deficit for the 2012-2013 school year:

- $200,000 overspending

- $380,000 cut in state funding

- $325,000 additional cut in state funding

The overspending, though saving jobs at the time, has created an over-staffing problem in the district, according to Howard.

The superintendent indicated that discussions will continue and tough decisions will have to be made as the district moves forward. However, he reassured parents that students will be his main concern. "The best interest of the students will always be the number one priority," said Howard.

Butler County Schools Superintendent Scott Howard

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Comments

Submitted by Donne Guffy (not verified) on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 12:23pm

why isn't there a itemized list of the $200,000 over spending? .. if it's one department more than another start the cuts there.. I'm sure the citizens AND the teachers would like to know what that went towards.

Submitted by Debbie Marrs (not verified) on Thu, 02/09/2012 - 1:03pm

This is very sad for the children of Butler county. I will pray there will be some ideas to help raise money for our sch.'s here & for the hard working people here in Butler Co. I would hate to see more people lose their jobs.

Submitted by Steve Compton (not verified) on Fri, 02/10/2012 - 10:28am

There has to be some savings due to the mild weather including electricity costs, transportation, etc. Also, to be honest it sounds like Mr. Howard allowed the over spending thus caused a future shortfall. That is why our government and personal debt is high. He basically used his savings and credit cards. Where is the accountability? I wonder also how efficient the school system really is? How about some real numbers! The money is there.

Submitted by Lynn Gill (not verified) on Fri, 02/10/2012 - 10:30am

Is the budget not reviewed monthly/yearly? I mean if you overspend your monthly budget, then it looks like you would investigate why the spending was done and then try to cut that cost over the next few months. This shortcoming of money, did not happen over night? Someone should have been already concerned with this and addressing the over spending in whatever area it is occurring before such a huge amount has been lost. It is very sad for kids to suffer. Someone has to take control of the school's budget and not allow Butler County to get into this type of shape. It is just really sad that this has happened.

Submitted by Jimmy Arnold, C... (not verified) on Fri, 02/10/2012 - 1:02pm

Based on the Kentucky School Districts Energy Utilization Statistics for FY 2011 Butler County was the third most efficient district in the state with a EUI (Energy Use Index) of 40.27 kbtu/sq.ft. The state average was 64.83 kbtu/sq.ft, which means we are 38% more efficient than the state average.

Submitted by Darryl Dockery (not verified) on Sat, 02/11/2012 - 12:43pm

A big problem has been solved. 3 music positions cut and the we will not have a choir. The band will have director and not funded.

Submitted by Darryl Dockery (not verified) on Sat, 02/11/2012 - 3:31pm

I understand part of the problem has been solved. 3 music teachers position cut and also the choir at the high school has be cut. I found out that this was discussed while I was in Louisville with a student who made the state choir.Sad times for the arts in Butler County

Submitted by Phyllis Tate (not verified) on Sun, 02/12/2012 - 1:05pm

"The best interest of the students will always be the number one priority." This is a direct quote from Supt. Scott Howard's interview w/BTN. I will personally hold Mr. Howard to this statement. If he is the person that I believe him to be, then this will prevail in all decisions. I'm also praying that each school board member will remember that each & every decision should be made with the students as their #1 priority. ALSO, BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE WRITTEN IN STONE, WHY DON'T ALL OF YOU, ASK THE STUDENTS WHAT THEY WANT. You just might be surprised @ their solutions for these issues which directly influence and determine their success in life. Wow, I'm praying that any decisions made by the powers that be, are certainly thoughtfully & prayerfully made. In the words of one who so greatly influenced our Music & Arts Programs in the Butler County School System & throughout our Commonwealth, "THE WORLD WANTS RESULTS NOT EXCUSES." Here's hoping Mr. Black won't have to turn over in his grave from any wrongful decisions. Right now, I'm very grateful for being a BCHS graduate & a BC Retired Teacher. God be with you all. Phyllis Cook Tate

Submitted by Robin Schroeder (not verified) on Sun, 02/12/2012 - 2:06pm

Can someone tell me when the next Board of Education Meeting is? I would really encourage everyone in our community to attend. This is the only way to get the questions we all have answered. I can't believe that this "short fall" just all of a sudden happened. Someone somewhere had to know what the financial situation has been, or what future financial projections where. It's time to put our teachers and STUDENTS first in this nation!!!

Submitted by Dionne Merritt (not verified) on Mon, 02/13/2012 - 8:29am

To answer Robin Schroeder question, the next school board meeting in Feb. 14th at 6:30 at the Butler County Educational Complex.

Submitted by Darryl Dockery (not verified) on Mon, 02/13/2012 - 5:28pm

Sad day at school today. Informed the students in choir that my position would not be filled for next year and there would be no choir. Lots of tears lots of blame to go around. I told the students that I didn't want to see parents of music students and athletic boosters going to meetings and arguing about what is more important the arts or athletics because both will come out short and pitting people against each other that simply want what is best for his or her child just causes problem for both sides.I would rather retire and have my salary go to an elementary teacher to lower a class size. But I know it won't happen. I had an administrator tell me once that cutting the arts would be suicide. I wonder what form of death he has chosen. Whitney Houston told a group of people on a VH1 Diva Program "That as long as there is a song there is love' and as long as there is love there is a song". Jesus said that we should forgive deceive and mislead. Sometimes it is hard but we must continue to try.

Submitted by Daniel Cardwell (not verified) on Mon, 02/13/2012 - 11:35pm

This is truely a sad day in the county. I don't see cutting the arts programs as an answer. If it is truely about our students success, our arts programs have allowed many to attend college completely debt free (myself included)on full-ride music scholarships. Studies have shown that students who participate in music programs have higher test scores in math and english. Our choir was recognized by the Grammys, performed in Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center. To put that into terms everyone can understand, that would be like our basketball team playing in Madison Square Garden or our baseball team playing in Yankee Stadium. The Board has taken the Crown Jewel of our school system and thrown it on the trash heap.

Submitted by Darryl Dockery (not verified) on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 7:11am

Correction Jesus said to forgive those that deceive and mislead. Sorry for the typing error. I don't feel very good right now.

Submitted by Angie Dalton (not verified) on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 8:03am

Such a sad day!! This time last year we were preparing to go to NYC, because BCHS Chamber Choir was asked to preform at Carnegie Hall, What an Honor that was!!So very wrong and sad that we have to do away with this program, I along with alot of other parents im sure are having a hard time with why this had to happen!!

Submitted by Lynn Gill (not verified) on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 1:09pm

Does this shortfall of money have any thing to do with the new baseball/softball field that was built by the School system? The upkeep can't be cheap to keep the field up and running each season either. Does it have any thing to do with the weight room that was built by the School System? Can someone tell us how much was spent on these two projects.

Submitted by Tanda Neighbors (not verified) on Tue, 02/14/2012 - 2:02pm

To be honest I am almost willing to bet what is going to happen is all these programs and sports are going to be cut and guess what the parents of these children are going to do. They are going to move their children to out of county schools (because there is an agreement between adjoining counties that there is no tuition that has to be paid) where their children can be in these sports and other programs. At least that is more than likely what I will do when it happens to one of my children's programs they love.

Submitted by Steve Compton (not verified) on Wed, 02/15/2012 - 11:43am

Check this out. Webster County 4 day school week. http://www.webster.k12.ky.us/4DayWeekReport/tabid/848/Default.aspx