Dr. Susan Moxley, Superintendent

1
Lake County Schools - An A School District
Funding Crisis for Public Education Call to
Action

• Dr. Susan Moxley, Superintendent

We do it right we do it right every time and we
do it better than anyone else!
2
Constitution of the State of Florida

• Article IX. Section 1. Public education.
• The education of children is a fundamental
  value of the people of the State of Florida. It
  is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to
  make adequate provision for the education of all
  children residing within its borders. Adequate
  provision shall be made by law for a uniform,
  efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system
  of free public schools that allows students to
  obtain a high quality education

3
Florida High Achieving State

• Florida Schools Rank in Top 15
• Florida is a great place to live and do business.
  Its an excellent place to learn, too. The 2008
  Quality Counts Report a national comparison of
  state education systems ranked Florida among
  the top 15 in the country. Since last year,
  Florida schools have jumped from 31st place in
  the nation to 14th. Thats amazing progress.
• A Strong Teaching Force
• The key to student success is having good
  teachers in the classroom.
• Quality Counts ranked Floridas teaching
  profession fourth in the nation.
• Florida was recognized for preparing, attracting,
  rewarding and supporting quality teachers.

4
Lake County Schools Vision and Mission
Vision Statement A dynamic, progressive and
collaborative learning community embracing change
and diversity where every student has the
opportunity to succeed. Mission Statement
The mission of the Lake County Schools, a
resilient and growing system working hand in hand
with the community, is to prepare individuals for
successful lifelong learning, productive
employment and responsible citizenry by providing
a safe, resource filled learning environment.
5
Lake County Schools Accomplishments

• A rated district by the State of Florida.
• FCAT scores continue to increase.
• Florida School districts have reached all-time
  high levels of success.
• 83 percent of schools earned A or B grades.
• Graduation rate increased by 6.3 from 73.0 in
  2007 to 79.3 for 2008.
• LCS offer a wide variety of fine arts programs in
  K-12 which include music, dance, theatre and
  visual arts.
• LCS has met all class size reduction
  requirements.

6
Lake County Schools Accomplishments

• LCS has 189 National Board Certified Teachers.
• Earned district-wide accreditation from the
  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  (SACS) under the parent organization of AdvancED
  in 2007.
• Advanced Placement Programs in all high schools.
• 3,369,331 in grant dollars.
• Lake County Schools offer Voluntary
  Pre-Kindergarten. LCS readiness scores (261) for
  VPK exceeded the state average (247).
• LCS is one of seven school districts in Florida
  awarded the Gold Seal of Best Financial
  Management Practices from OPPAGA.

7
Funding in Florida

• 50th in the US in terms of spending on education
  (per 1000 income) - - Source 2005-2006 U.S.
  Census Bureau
• 50th in Health Care for Children (The Commonweath
  Fund)
• In the 2008 Legislative Session
• Education Funding minus 332.3 million
• 309 Million New Prisons (10 million more than
  all K-12 construction)

8
Funding in Florida

• Total State Funding reduced over 12
• Net FEFP Funds down over 19.62
• Cut 6 times in the last 2 years
• First time in 37 years state funding has gone
  backwards

9
How is Lake County Funded?

• State revenue 53
• Local property taxes (ad valorem) 47
• Lottery (less than 1)

10
Why do we have a Budget Crisis?

• State Revenue Shortfall
• 2007 2008 2.2 billion (impacting 08-09
  school year)
• 2008 2009 3.5 billion and growing (impacting
  09-10 school year)

11
Lake County Schools at the Breaking Point

• We were notified in January of an additional 2.0
  (5.6 million) reduction to our operating budget.
• Therefore, since 2007, our budget has been
  reduced 6.62 which is approximately 17 million.
  
• We were also notified to expect another 2-3 (up
  to 6.0 million) reduction.
• Our 2 mill capital budget was reduced by .25 mill
  (5.4 million).

12
Cumulative FEFP Reductions(Florida Education
Finance Program)

• 2007 2008 11 million
• January 2009 5.6 million
• 2008 2009 6.0 million (projected)
• Cumulative 22.6 Million

13
Lake County State FundingFunding per
Unweighted FTE

• Note These reductions represent an overall
  projected decrease in funding per unweighted FTE
  of 936.27 or 16.25 in the last 2 years.

14
What did we expect for 2009-10?

• As Discussed on January 2, 2009
• At Current Enrollment Figures
• 12 State 15,460,971
• (6 Total FEFP)
• 10 State 12,884,143
• (5 Total FEFP)
• 8 State 10,307,314
• (4 Total FEFP)
• In addition, we discussed that Tallahassee has
  suggested that Ad Valorem collections could be
  down by at least 4 for 2009-10 which could
  amount to 4,999,334.

15
What do we NOW expect for 2009-10?

• Recent speculation based on continuing declines
  in the revenue estimates now indicate that the
  potential State funding cuts could equal a 15
  reduction for 2009-10
• Which for Lake County Schools, at the current
  enrollment levels, would total a reduction of
  19,326,214

16
2009-10?Revised for 15 Reduction
17
Total Revenue Reduction Estimates

• In addition to the potential cuts in State
  Funding, we also must consider other increases
  which will have to be addressed to fully
  recognize the total of the potential revenue
  reductions.

18
Potential Revenue Reductions
19
Budget Reduction Considerations
20
Budget Reduction Considerations
21
Budget Reduction Considerations
22
Budget Reduction Considerations
23
Budget Reduction Considerations
24
What can we do?

• We must communicate our funding needs and
  expectations to our legislators and state policy
  makers
• It is the states paramount duty to make adequate
  provision for a high quality system of free
  public schools that allows students to obtain a
  high quality education.

25
Recommendations to the State

• Enact no new unfunded K-12 mandates
• Provide an overall strategy of comprehensive
  statutory and budget flexibility while holding
  the school district responsible for maintaining
  student achievement.
• Hold in abeyance or authorize rather than mandate
  specific program requirements legislated as
  unfunded education initiative in 2007-2008.
• Restore the full optional district 2 mill capital
  outlay levy and oppose any additional shifting of
  capital millage to general operating fund.

26
Suggestions for New Education Funding

• Delay for the 2009-2010 school year
• Class size amendment requirements by continuing
  school-wide average.
• Expansion of middle school physical education
  requirements.
• Implementation of K-8 virtual education.
• Implementation of new high school accountability
  requirements.

27
Suggestions for New Education Funding

• Elimination of certain sales tax exemptions
• Increase general sales tax by one percent (1)
• Increase tobacco and alcohol sales tax designated
  for education
• Designation of existing gaming revenue primarily
  to public education
• Expand collection of Internet/mail order sales
  tax revenue
• Cap growth on corporate tax scholarships and
  McKay scholarships.

28
We Need You to Get Involved

• As well as
• Your neighbors, friends and family
• School Board and districts across the state
• Parents, business/community members and leaders
• Educational advocacy organizations
• Professional and civic organizations

29
Get Involved

• Now
• Contact your legislators and state policy makers
  through phone calls, emails, letters, visits and
  organized responses.
• Tell legislators and state policy makers it is
  their paramount duty to adequately provide
  funding for high quality public education.