School Funding Budget Update

As I left the Cypress Creek Academy and Detention Center graduation on Friday I could not help but recall that we typically spend approximately $18,000 a year (or $50 a day per inmate) to manage and rehab an inmate in our detention centers, while for the 2011-2012 school year we are provided less then $6,300 a year to educate a student.  [Note that CCA can receive an additional $5,670 per year to educate the inmate.]

As many of you know the state has drastically reduced the funding for public school students.  We are expecting to have a reduction of $11.2 million for Citrus County Schools for the 2011-2012 school year.

On Friday, Superintendent Sandra “Sam” Himmel send out an important email to all teachers and employees of Citrus County School District.  Ms. Himmel shared “State Legislators have approved the budget for the 2011/2012 year which will now be sent to Governor Scott for his approval. The final budget for our district is a reduction in revenue of $11.2 million.  (This funding level is equivalent to the funding we received in the 2001/2002 school year.) I share this with you because we will be facing some very challenging times in the next few years. Although we had been preparing for a reduction, we were not expecting the reductions that were approved by the legislature last week.  We have been reviewing programs and positions at all levels and have been forced to make some very difficult decisions.”  Ms. Himmel went on to share, “We have reduced positions in every occupational field such as food service, maintenance, custodial, transportation, clerical, teaching and administration. We have chosen not to fill some of the vacant positions so that we can meet these reductions. We know and agree that these reductions are not in the best interest of our students; unfortunately, we cannot sustain our current level of funding and services.”  Ms. Himmel finished by saying, “I am still optimistic for we have found bright lights in this economic challenge. While many districts have eliminated special areas such as art and music, we have committed to sustaining these valuable programs.”

I very much appreciate Ms. Himmel’s email and for making our teachers and employees aware of this situation.  We are a community and our lives are very connected to one another. It  is important as we begin to look at potentially more changes that we continue to work together on solutions as much as possible.  That said, like Ms. Himmel stated, I too remain optimistic that we will prevail and be successful despite these economic challenges.

If you have any questions or concerns that I might be able to address please do not hesitate to contact me.

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