RALEIGH -- Wake County students and teachers dealing with overcrowded classrooms and fewer courses aren't going to get relief next year and could actually experience even worse conditions.
Wake Schools Superintendent Del Burns announced plans Thursday to cut $20 million in spending from next year's budget in an attempt to avoid a new round of painful classroom cuts, targeting positions and services that aren't based in schools.
But Burns said North Carolina's largest school district is only trying to prevent a further erosion of education resources instead of reversing the cuts that led this year to larger classes, fewer courses and hundreds of employees not being rehired.
"We're trying to maintain the level of teachers, teacher assistants and instructional supplies we now have," Burns said.
Burns warned that they might have to make more classroom cuts if state and local tax revenues continue to lag.
Burns' budget announcement took place 12 days before four new school board members take office Dec. 1. They'll join with current board member Ron Margiotta in forming a new majority that backs neighborhood schools and opposes busing for diversity and mandatory year-round schools.
Word of the new cuts didn't deter members of the new majority, who said they thought they could still implement their changes. Burns was praised for trying to deal with the bleak budget picture without making classroom cuts.
"If conditions are as bad as they say they are, we're going to have to find cuts," said new board member Chris Malone. "I'm glad it's not coming out of the classroom."
Margiotta called the cuts "a recognition of reality."
Malone and other new board members had campaigned on allegations of wasteful administrative spending. But Burns said the district's administrative spending is "lean" and that the new cuts will hurt schools indirectly.
The cuts will represent 9 percent of the district's $216.9 million Central Services budget. Central Services covers everything not based at schools, such as the maintenance department, technology department, human resources and communications.
The specific cuts haven't yet been identified. But they will be incorporated into the budget proposal presented to the school board in March.
Thursday's announcement is the latest piece of bad budget news for Wake.
With the state's revenue shortfall reaching $3.2 billion this year, Burns told principals to fill only 95 percent of their positions.
Just this week, the school board voted to ask for state permission to exceed class size limits in 329 kindergarten through third-grade classrooms at 66 elementary schools.
Looking at the next fiscal year, Burns said it was becoming clear that the budget situation was still going to be bad. He said Wake is already facing at least $17 million in higher costs and less revenue for next year, including:
$8 million in additional state funding cuts.
A $6 million increase in costs such as retirement, health and dental insurance and teacher pay.
A $3 million reduction in how much can be taken from the district's rainy day fund to balance the budget.
Plus, Burns said the district is shouldering the expense of four new schools and a projected growth of more than 3,800 students.
