Hall school board members face tough budget decisions

GAINESVILLE - Once again, the Hall County School Board has some tough decisions to make when it comes to an operating budget.

School board members Monday night got a look at the $283.8 million preliminary budget for FY 2014.

Superintendent Will Schofield had already warned board members in recent weeks that the district would need an additional $3.5 million in the coming year to fund the employer portion of health insurance and teacher retirement. That increase comes without any adjustments to salaries.

In addition, the district will spend almost $5 million of reserves, or 30-percent of its savings, to make ends meet on the current budget.

Schofield also noted that the local property digest is projected to be down by 1.5-percent this year. And, while state revenues are increasing, austerity cuts for local school boards will continue.

School Board Chairman Nath Morris said the situation is frustrating.

"2008 is when we first started making the cuts," said Morris. "We saw the writing on the wall and we told the superintendent to, you know, bring us a leaner budget. We had to - we knew the austerity cuts were coming. That was five years ago. We've lost $93 million in five years."

Saying that "people are tired," Schofield told the board members that even with less money coming in, he wants to do something to compensate teachers who have had to deal with furlough days and larger class sizes.

He suggested to the board that they add personal learning days, or units,(PLUs) to teacher calendars. That would mean a 186 day calendar for teachers, with 175 days in the classroom with students.

While Morris said he knows teachers need that additional preparation time outside of the classroom, he said he does worry about fewer days of classroom instruction.

"There are some kids that are going to be fine with 176 or 174 or 172 days, but it's the gradual learners that I worry about," said Morris.

Schofield also suggested giving all school employees, not just teachers, a small raise, noting that all employees have shared in the pain of carrying a heavier workload with smaller compensation.

To do that, he acknowledged, would mean an increase in the millage rate for property owners.

Board members directed Schofield to return to them in June with more specific numbers on what it would cost to implement the raises.

The board scheduled a June 3 called work session to further discuss the budget. A final vote on a budget is scheduled at this time for June 24.