Today Chancellor Kenny Armstrong ruled in favor of the Memphis City Schools in the city/MCS lawsuit.
Mayor Willie Herenton told the council this afternoon that he had a sense of urgency about the decision:
"I think this particular ruling that we received today, one of my expectations was the court would really define what governmental body had the responsibility for maintenance of effort. I'm not a lawyer but I don't think that designation has been made.
"Your administrative staff are heavily involved in making a budget for next year. I've got to now direct my staff to develop a budget that potentially would be required to absorb an additional $57 million, in addition to what we were planning to present to you.
"I know CAO Keith McGee and [finance director] Roland [McElrath] have worked with you and told you the upcoming budget is challenging. Hopefully you've looked at other municipalities, the state, the corporate sector. All of those entities are facing significant layoffs, facing significant diminution of benefits. Obviously, we've got to make some deep cuts in our budget.
"We cannot be all things to all people. ...
"As we trim personnel costs down, we want to have the flexibility to impact some managerial positions so that the overwhelming burden of balancing budget don't fall on the employees that are traditionally in the lowest quartile.
"This administration needs flexibility and we'll have to curtail services like never before."
Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Cash on Cash
431,232, 142
431,232, 142
431,232, 142
That's the number Memphis City Schools superintendent Kriner Cash has burned into his brain — 431,232,142 — the one he recites from memory like Hurley, Lost's unlucky lottery winner.
"That's the figure the state expects and I haven't heard anything different," Cash says.
Cash has to submit his legal budget to the state October 1, 2009, but so far he's about $100 million short.
For years, the district has been funded by the county, local sales tax, and the city. But last year, the city cut the $66 million slated to go to the district, leaving the school system with a funding nightmare on its hands.
Under the "maintenance of effort" clause, the school system must be locally funded at the same level as the previous year. The cut sparked a lawsuit — still unresolved — about who exactly should make up the shortfall. The city argues that the money should come from the required local funder, the county.
But right now, Cash is looking for a solution to next year. The school system expects to be out of money August 1st.
"What can we do while we solve all the arguments? And there's a lot of arguments out there. If it's the city, the county, it doesn't matter to me," Cash says. "We just need this amount."
Last November, the idea of giving both the city and county school systems taxing authority began to be discussed. Cash says the idea has gotten bogged down around the tax rate but, along with additional funding from the county, he sees district taxing authority as a possible long-term solution.
"I'm for both, as long as they make MCS whole, whichever comes first," he says.
In addition to his reform agenda, which I wrote about this week, Cash is also looking at places he can either save or earn money. He's re-examining transportation routes and how much square footage district custodians clean (a figure he says is below industry standards) and how many children buy breakfast and lunch. The district also has new software for contract and procurement services that Cash says will save several million dollars.
"No matter which way we cut this, I can't get to $100 million. I feel fairly confident I can get to $20 million," Cash says. Even if they cut all the administration positions — from superintendent down — it would save $17 million.
"It's like a big onion," Cash says, " You just keep peeling it ... it makes me cry, too."
431,232, 142
431,232, 142
That's the number Memphis City Schools superintendent Kriner Cash has burned into his brain — 431,232,142 — the one he recites from memory like Hurley, Lost's unlucky lottery winner.
"That's the figure the state expects and I haven't heard anything different," Cash says.
Cash has to submit his legal budget to the state October 1, 2009, but so far he's about $100 million short.
For years, the district has been funded by the county, local sales tax, and the city. But last year, the city cut the $66 million slated to go to the district, leaving the school system with a funding nightmare on its hands.
Under the "maintenance of effort" clause, the school system must be locally funded at the same level as the previous year. The cut sparked a lawsuit — still unresolved — about who exactly should make up the shortfall. The city argues that the money should come from the required local funder, the county.
But right now, Cash is looking for a solution to next year. The school system expects to be out of money August 1st.
"What can we do while we solve all the arguments? And there's a lot of arguments out there. If it's the city, the county, it doesn't matter to me," Cash says. "We just need this amount."
Last November, the idea of giving both the city and county school systems taxing authority began to be discussed. Cash says the idea has gotten bogged down around the tax rate but, along with additional funding from the county, he sees district taxing authority as a possible long-term solution.
"I'm for both, as long as they make MCS whole, whichever comes first," he says.
In addition to his reform agenda, which I wrote about this week, Cash is also looking at places he can either save or earn money. He's re-examining transportation routes and how much square footage district custodians clean (a figure he says is below industry standards) and how many children buy breakfast and lunch. The district also has new software for contract and procurement services that Cash says will save several million dollars.
"No matter which way we cut this, I can't get to $100 million. I feel fairly confident I can get to $20 million," Cash says. Even if they cut all the administration positions — from superintendent down — it would save $17 million.
"It's like a big onion," Cash says, " You just keep peeling it ... it makes me cry, too."
Thursday, August 28, 2008
What's the Plan?
One of my readers — and a Snowden School parent — asked me to post a letter she sent to the City Council. Here it is, in its entirety:
"The children will not suffer. These words were spoken by Councilman [Harold] Collins when he spoke in favor of slashing the city funding of the Memphis City Schools by approximately 70 percent. Councilman [Edmund] Ford Jr. said to 'cut a little' when he also spoke in favor of slashing the funding. Councilman [Shea] Flinn said 'the children will not be hurt by this,' when he spoke in favor of slashing school funding. Councilwoman [Wanda] Halbert said the funding cuts to Memphis City Schools "will not hurt the children." Councilman [Myron] Lowery said that a 'day of opportunity' has come, that we need a fundamental change in the operation of the city government and the school system.
We must now hold these council members accountable for their decision to drastically slash the city's funding of the Memphis City Schools, specifically Councilman [Bill] Morrison, the 'brains' behind these cuts and this entire fiasco.
In the August 27th issue, The Commercial Appeal reported the following:
Memphis City School Parent"
"The children will not suffer. These words were spoken by Councilman [Harold] Collins when he spoke in favor of slashing the city funding of the Memphis City Schools by approximately 70 percent. Councilman [Edmund] Ford Jr. said to 'cut a little' when he also spoke in favor of slashing the funding. Councilman [Shea] Flinn said 'the children will not be hurt by this,' when he spoke in favor of slashing school funding. Councilwoman [Wanda] Halbert said the funding cuts to Memphis City Schools "will not hurt the children." Councilman [Myron] Lowery said that a 'day of opportunity' has come, that we need a fundamental change in the operation of the city government and the school system.
We must now hold these council members accountable for their decision to drastically slash the city's funding of the Memphis City Schools, specifically Councilman [Bill] Morrison, the 'brains' behind these cuts and this entire fiasco.
In the August 27th issue, The Commercial Appeal reported the following:
The $42 million in cuts at Memphis City Schools threatens the city's 'most vulnerable' groups, educators say, including immigrants and children needing mental health services.
So I now ask, Councilman Collins, Councilman Ford, Councilman Flinn, Councilwoman Halbert, Councilman Lowery, and most of all, Councilman Morrison, how can you now ensure that with these cuts, the children will not suffer?
Of course, these elected officials will argue that the Memphis City School administration made the decision to cut these particular services and that they could have cut dollars elsewhere. In response, I then ask these elected officials this: Please tell me where these dollars should have been cut, because if you're going to make a statement that the children will not suffer, you better be able to stand behind it. And you better be able to develop a plan to resolve the funding issues going forward. A plan is needed with the Memphis City School Board, Shelby County, and the State of Tennessee.
I, like many other Memphis City Schools parents, appeared before the council and asked for a plan. Instead, what we got was a blanket statement from these certain council members that 'the children will not suffer.' So now please tell me, Councilman Collins, Councilman Ford, Councilman Flinn, Councilwoman Halbert , Councilman Lowery and Councilman Morrison, where should these cuts be made? And where and what is the plan?
Sincerely,
Martha BurkheadMemphis City School Parent"
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