Agenda - 11-16-2004-5o - Laserfiche WebLink

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State Unfunded Mandates Izey I'o~nts Number of State Allotted Teachers: In this category, too few teachers are allocated by the state to achieve the mandated class sizes across all grade levels, Local funds must be used to make up the difference, In Durhatn Public Schools (DPS), county fmids are utilized to place an additional 300-plus classroom teachers and other instructional professionals in our classrooms to cover critical teaching areas. State Discretionar`y Cut: In FY 2002-0.3, as a result of the budget crisis, the NC Generai Assembly instituted an item called the "state discretionuy cut." This is a line item which requires the school districts to return a fixed unount of money to the state after the final budget is passed. In order to meet our share of the discretionary cuts, DPS had to cut teaching and support/administrative positions for t(uee consecutive years. hr effect, the state gave us teaching positions to lower elementary class sizes; however, to meet the required discretionary cut, DPS had to cut positions-resulting in an overall net loss of positions. It should also be noted that the state is not providing capital and operational funds to cover the cost of additional classroom space required for lower class-sizes, Many schools are already at capacity so it becomes a local fwrding obligation tluough mobile units and other capital and operating funds to create these newly required classrooms. Locally we must also furnish those classrooms and outfit the new teachers with furniture, supplies, etc. We support state-mandated lower-class sizes when they are accompanied by resources to fund the initiative. Other State Staffine• Teacher Assistant position allocations have not kept pace with teacher allocations for grades K-3, Also, the State does not provide additional teacher assistants to account for growth in student population. Since we do not have local resources for additional teacher assistants, our teacher assistant to student ratio has had to hrcrease. DPS allocates 1 teacher assistant for every 28 students in IC-2 and 1 teacher assistant for every 50 students in grade :3 or .32.3 teacher assistants.. The state allots $886,.3.3 per K-.3 ADM which provides funding far 306 teacher assistants. As ADM increases in an LEA, the teacher allotment is increased by the state but the teacher assistant allocation will not keep pane at the present state funding level, For exanzple, for every 18 students in ADM the state allots a teacher. The teacher assistant dollar allotment is $15,953,94. The total cost for a teacher assistant with benefits is $2.3,258. Therefore, DPS is underfunded by $7,.300 per position in this category, The state funding also lags in the Non-Instructional Support areas (school support staff) as well, making those staffing issues primarily a local fimding obligation. These support 1