Cherokee Schools To Reduce Furlough Days

An additional two classroom instruction days will soon return to the Cherokee County School District.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo announced during Thursday's work session that the district will restore two days to its calendar for the 2013-14 school year.

Petruzielo said the district was able to perform the restoration due to the increase in the county's tax digest. 

That would get the district's instructional calendar from 175 days to 177 for students. Before furlough days, the district operated on a 180 day calendar for students.

The tax digest increased by 2.8 percent for school portion of tax assessments. The entire digest increased by 3 percent.  

After exemptions and appeals are applied, the school district is expected to see an overall increase of 2.6 percent.

Candler Howell, assistant superintendent for financial management, said that amounts to roughly $2.8 million more for the district's maintenance and operations budget.

Petruzielo cautioned the school board, noting there's a "danger" in treating this money like "it's going to save the world." He noted the district is still grappling with losing over $50 million in state and local funding between 2009 and 2012. 

Even with the additional money from the increased digest, CCSD will still have to trim $7 million from its fiscal year 2013-14 budget, which was spelled out in a status report on the compilation of the proposed budget. 

The cuts are necessary, the superintendent writes, "in light of anticipated funding shortfalls due to federal sequestration, state austerity budget cuts of $24.6 million and significantly increased cost shifted from the state to CCSD for continued participation of non-certified/classified employees in the State Health Benefit Plan." 

Some of the proposed cuts include reducing teaching staff through attrition, reducing support and paraprofessional staff, increasing fees for the Before and After School programs, re-aligning transportation routes and eliminating the district's contribution towards dental benefits and basic long-term disability benefits. 

Petruzielo said preliminary data they've received in response to a request for proposals note the district could save $100,000 if grounds services were privatized, which would impact eight employees in the district. 

The board will review proposals to consider during its June 13 meeting, which would go into effect for the 2013-14 school year if approved.

The superintendent said preliminary data from responses to the district's call for requests for proposals also show "substantial" cost reductions from possibly privatizing its custodial services beginning on Jan. 1, 2014. He noted staff is reviewing other alternatives that would allow some or all employees to retained in the district. 

Three options they are reviewing include privatization; a model where the district would change the employment model and working hours of custodians; and a hybrid model in which some employees would remain full-time and other would be part-time. 

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