Week in Review for May 22nd – May 28th, 2011

“What just happened????”

The students, teachers and most of the staff have left the schools and summer has officially begun for the Citrus County School District. Now the challenges of developing the budget for next year continues.

On Thursday Governor Rick Scott signed the state budget but also vetoed $615 million dollars out of the budget for next year.  Then Scott asked the Legislators to reallocate the vetoed monies to K-12 educational funding.  Shortly after Scott spoke, House Speaker Dean Cannon responded with the following statement:

“What is more surprising is the Governor’s sudden emphasis on K-12 education. The budget we sent him funds education at a higher level than the Governor recommended just a few months ago, when he proposed a 10% cut to the FEFP. The Governor communicated numerous priorities during session, and we did our best to accommodate him. It would have been helpful if the Governor had shared this new found emphasis with us before the budget was finalized.”

We have been told from our contacts in Tallahassee that there is no reason to anticipate that any additional FEFP funds (Florida Education Finance Program – per student public school funding) will be provided to the school districts prior to the fiscal year 2011-2012 year.  While Governor Scott expressed that he would like to see additional funding generated from vetoed appropriations provided to K-12 school programs, there is no current plan to call a special session to have the legislature provide for more FEFP funding.

At this point it is hard for me not to repeat something I have expressed often for sometime: “I am sick and tired of the parties and politicians using public education as their political football.”

So what happens now?  On June 7th at 9:00am the Citrus County School Board will be meeting for another special meeting and workshop regarding the budget.  Superintendent Himmel and her staff will be providing the Board with additional information and annual costs of programs and curriculum.  I don’t want to over- speculate as to what, if anything will be finalized, at the meeting.  We are all concerned but I also feel there are some reasons to be optimistic about some things.

I am sorry for any of you that are waiting to hear if some positions will be funded and approved for next year.  Unfortunately, at this time it is critical that we have more information before making those decisions. Parents are concerned about how our classrooms and schools will be affected next year. I feel nearly everyone in the process wants to get things settled as soon as possible for you and our schools.

I hope all of you have a great beginning to a good summer break.

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