Barring an unexpectedly quick and strong economic recovery, Georgia school officials and parents had better brace themselves for program-killing budget cuts over the next year.
Budget-slashing edicts arrive monthly from the governor’s office, ordering furloughs and reducing state payments. On the home front, property tax collections are lagging, and school systems’ reserve funds — if any existed in the first place — are being consumed. Tax increases are largely out of the question.
In the tiny Commerce City School System, the state has reduced funding by $1.9 million since March. Jackson County ended last school year with a deficit; it has no reserves. School systems throughout Georgia are in similar straits, or worse.
Still, worse is yet to come.
Officials are unanimous in their expectations of further state funding cuts. If the state doesn’t have the money, it can’t fully fund schools or anything else. Expect more furloughs, but, worse, expect more cuts in QBE funding. With state money diminishing, and local tax increases unlikely, school systems are reaching dire straits.
Many systems have nowhere left to cut but programs, and students and parents alike may be shocked, incensed, as funding cuts force the elimination of programs. We’re not talking about cutting the kindergartners’ field trip to the Christmas tree farm, but slashing entire programs.
Should it come to that, there are no good or right ways to cut programs. Does Jackson County eliminate its signature fine arts programs? Can Commerce shut down its vocational courses or do away with the Advance Placement courses it’s struggled to provide? Will coaching supplements be on the chopping block?
Any of those will create anger among parents and students, but those kinds of choices await school systems all over Georgia, a state whose idea of “adequate” funding was suspect well before the economy tanked. The relaxing of state requirements — larger class sizes for example — can provide some relief, or the state could take matters into its own hands — say the elimination of pre-K and kindergarten — but chances are great that local boards of education will be forced to cut or eliminate entire programs to survive the funding shortfalls.
We often hear that we’re in unprecedented times. Don’t be surprised if school systems have to take unprecedented and drastic measures to get through the next year or two.
All schools are feeling the crunch, the cutbacks and the elimination of state program funding, big and small- city, county and private. It’s a sign of the times not just in schools but in almost every structured business in the United States of America. That is whey we have the excellent teachers, office staff, coaches, administration, board of education and superintendent in place to make educated decisions about these situations within the Commerce City School.
As far as your comments in reference to "The Commerce Booster Club", you are wrong! We are most fortunate to have such a supporting group of contributors and fans in our small town. I am a member for one reason, to give my time and money to benefit the students. These donations, and contributions are from hard working teachers, parents, small business owners, alumni and corporate funding dollars and they are used to pay for non-state funded needs which are too long to list. Without the funds from the Booster Club many students would not be allowed to participate in any sporting events.
The football players use the same equipment that is used by the students who participate in weight training classes during the school day. I don’t know when they were purchased but I know that I used them in my weight training class during high school. That’s what you do in a small school system; you share your equipment, time and monetary assets.
Apparently, you are not aware that “The Commerce Booster Club” provides funding for scholarships to three chosen graduating seniors who submit a written scholarship application. These scholarships are in memory of past Booster Club Presidents, Nolan Spear, Jr., Sam Brown and Gerald Jordan. Each of these men gave their time, energy and money to our great Commerce Athletic Booster Club.
Maybe someone should form such an organization to fund the needs of the specific academic programs. Oh wait, we already did that- I have been a member of the Commerce City School Foundation Committee since inception and that's just what we do, we help fund ACADEMIC programs. We need more members and are always looking for donations and contributions. If you would like to make a contribution to the CCSFC, please contact me and I will be glad to accept your donation. But remember, you cannot dictate how the money is spent, that is at the discretion of the committee just like the contributions to the Booster Club.
It takes all of us working together to help feed all the aspirations of our young students and athletes and to give them a taste of different sports and academic courses including AP courses. Please know your facts next time you decide to comment on such important matters as the actions of the Commerce Athletic Booster Club or keep your inadequate thoughts to yourself and your mouth shut! We are fortunate to have outstanding academic and athletic programs within the Commerce School System.
You have NO CLUE where the funding comes from regarding your statements about the booster clubs do you.
1) New weights and equipment ? When was this? I know every year that we send our football helmets off to be rebuild / or recertified as SAFE TO USE. I hope you don't think we should not do this ?
2) I don't recall steak dinners before all ball games. I guess I may have missed them but generally speaking a dad or two will by steaks and the booster club will cook them for the team ONCED A YEAR ? Oh yeah , you left off the watermelon cuttin we will do for them.. I guess we should have the watermelons that are DONATED sold off at the local pawn shop and take that money to buy pencils or something.. again whats those two words...??
3) There is NO DOUBT that a small school is at as disadvantage in many areas when compared to larger ones, but for me ( a graduate of the school )the advantages of the small school enviroment out weigh any negatives.
You appear to be another one of THOSE folks you seem to have a issue with success if the success does not involve your child.
The solution is REAL EASY for ya pal !
KB
Teacher S. Savage City of Commerce BOE school income was $88,536 in 2008.
Also , not so sure what gratuities you would be talking about.
Again most of the STINKY stuff that gets thrown at our football team comes from jealous or uniformed people.
There are a few systems in the state that are already operating on four day weeks(Murray Co.?). Depending on those results, we might see that happen too.
Who knows what public education will look like once we get out of this recession? I would like to see an intelligent article covering that subject Mr. Editor.