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time, our state budget appears to be balanced. This is in large part due to the anticipated <br /> additional funds that would be provided with enrollment growth. After accounting for <br /> the additional teacher and teacher assistant positions required to meet our enrollment <br /> increases and class size maximums, as well as the increase in the discretionary reduction, <br /> we currently project an increase in our state budget of$452,964. As a reminder,the <br /> discretionary reduction has bee <br /> n increasing over the past several years and it is anticipated to total $3,980,409 in 2012- <br /> 13. This will result in the district reverting state funds that should be providing the <br /> district with over 50 additional teachers and approximately 25 additional teacher <br /> assistants. <br /> The General Assembly will convene again in May and it is not known at this time if <br /> further changes will be made to the 2012-13 budget. <br /> Although no official information has been received,there is anticipation that there will be <br /> reductions to Federal grants for 2012-13. The Federal grants such as Title I and Title III <br /> will likely be funded at lower amounts than the district currently receives. <br /> Capital Budget <br /> The County's shift of capital funding to support the operating budget shortfall has had a <br /> negative impact on the district's ability to address repair and renovation needs of our <br /> schools as well as our technology needs Restoration of those funds to the capital budget <br /> is greatly needed. <br /> The State will implement online testing for students in 2012-13 and the district needs <br /> significant dollars to provide the equipment and infrastructure support. More than <br /> $700,000 is needed initially to purchase computer equipment, and approximately <br /> $600,000 annually to sustain just this single need. We are struggling to keep our existing <br /> equipment current let alone move towards increased student access. <br /> Summary <br /> Chapel Hill—Carrboro City Schools, like many other school districts in the State, will <br /> implement the new Common Core/State Essential Standards curriculum next school year. <br /> The district will need to restructure and re-assign positions to ensure proper staffing for <br /> this major curriculum change and to keep the budgetary impact as cost-neutral as <br /> possible. <br /> We are very concerned about staff morale. The state also previously eliminated the ABC <br /> bonus payment which effectively reduced many of our teachers' and teacher assistants' <br /> compensation. We have lost talented administrators and staff to other districts and are <br /> losing highly talented candidates to other school systems in neighboring states. We need <br /> state support to fund a permanent wage increase and will continue to advocate with our <br /> local and state elected officials. <br /> 3 <br />