RALEIGH -- Wake County school administrators painted their grimmest budget picture yet for next school year as they warned today that layoffs are inevitable and that deep classroom cuts will have to be considered.
The school system is facing the loss of more than $100 million in funding next year from the loss of federal stimulus dollars and the state facing a $3 billion revenue shortfall. With salaries accounting for more than 80 percent of Wake’s $1.2 billion operating budget, Chief Business Officer David Neter said layoffs are “inevitable” based on the scope of the funding cuts.
Neter said Wake has been fortunate compared to other school districts in that it hasn’t had to make classroom cuts that are as deep. He said that could end next year as Wake is out of wiggle room.
“To say that we could protect the classroom with the magnitude of the cuts we’re facing in my mind would not be defining reality,” Neter told school board members.
Neter prepped the board for what Wake may face next year by pointing to the steps other school districts have already taken to deal with loss of funding.
Neter pointed to how class sizes have shot up in the San Diego school system in California. He also pointed to how San Diego may have to lay off 1,000 teachers next year and eliminate athletics and cut music and arts programs.
Neter pointed to how 61 percent of school districts have cut classroom teachers this year, according to a survey by the American Association of School Administrators. The AASA also found that a majority of districts increased class sizes and cut back on extracurricular activities this school year.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system, which is second in size in the state to Wake, is closing 10 schools next year to save money, Neter noted.
Neter said one of the biggest questions facing Wake is how much state funding will be cut. He said a $50 million cut in state funding for Wake, which is within the range of possible cuts identified by Gov. Perdue, is the equivalent of 1,000 employees making $50,000 a year.
“I’m trying not to be doom and gloom but to bring an understanding of what’s facing us,” Neter said.
Last week, Democratic Wake County Commissioner Stan Norwalk had warned that 2,000 teachers could be laid off next year. This led to Republican school board chairman Ron Margiotta publicly chastising Norwalk, accusing him of frightening the public.
