JCPS will be cutting funds to the school. What they will cut and how the cuts are made will directly affect Brown School.
Here is the breakdown according to JCPS
$44 million from central office. This includes eliminating about 300 positions and a reorganization of District departments and leadership.
$41 million from school budget funds that are not directly tied to student instruction.
$30 million from ongoing union negotiations. This number will likely change as negotiations proceed.
$13 million from Operations and Transportation.
$9 million from contracts and subscriptions
$5 million from facilities and underutilized assets.
Here are the links from JCPS about the Budget & Upcoming Board Meetings
JCPS Draft Budget Details Webpage
JCPS Board Meeting Agenda on Tuesday, January 20th
Budget Cuts
This is the information we have been given so far. Things can change and we are hoping that they do with your help.
Middle School Teams Formula - Eliminated
This formula allows the smaller schools like Brown to form teams to teach our students. Large schools have more teachers and are able to form teams to teach all the students together. This also allows Brown to teach our students Math and Literacy/Language Arts every day instead of 2 or 3 times a week. This reinforces the learning daily and has helped us with our testing scores.
When this is eliminated we will lose funding for 4.6 teachers which is almost 30% of our middle school teaching staff.
With these teachers we will also lose some of the related arts options that our K-12 students currently have.
4 Positions Staff Eliminated
(2) Academic Instructional Coaches - District plans to do this on the district level and we would have a person come in maybe one day a week to assist students and teachers.
(1) School Safety Administrator - District plans to do all the planning for this at the district level - while things that have to be done at the school level an assistant principal will have to add to their duties.
(1) Ordering & receiving Clerk - District will have all items needing to be ordered sent from the school level to the district office for ordering. District has not said how they will receive, count & verify orders, and who is responsible for correcting errors.
Related Arts Teacher Position unfunded
Currently we have funding for 6 related arts teachers.
They teach all students K-12.
WE are set to lose funding for 2 positions - this will eliminate options students will have.
Equity Funds - Reduced by help at all schools.
Currently our equity funds are used to:
Funds (1) Resource Teacher for the Ursa Innovation Lab
Funds (1) School Security Monitor
Funds (1) Library Media Clerk who also works part time in the Ursa Innovation Lab
High School Career Program Funds Eliminated
All funds for supplies and testing will be eliminated.
Sub Teaching Funds Eliminated
If a sub is not found - there will be no funds to pay a teacher during their planning period to teach students.
Pay Cuts for all 260 hours employees
This will be for staff such as: Principals, Secretaries, Custodial, and Security.
Long-Term Subs Lose bonus
Subs that work in the same classroom for 20+ days received a bonus since they have to not only work in the classroom but have to do lesson plans and submit grades.
The Long-Term Sub bonus has been cut in half.
Items that will not be covered next year:
Any student fees (they have been reduced as the school has been able to help with these in the past.
Any athletic fees as again they have been lowered as the school has been able to help with these in the past.
Any club fees as again they have been lowered as the school has been able to help with these in the past.
Remember that this is what we are expanding from what the district has said.
However, since they didn't detail out what is included in "contracts and subscriptions" we do not know what that is. It could not have anything to do with us or it could mean the software that we use to teach in the Ursula Lab or Robotics is not going to be paid for and we will lose that money also.
There are several ways in which you can help depending on your comfort level.
First - We need to be United in our Messaging:
Budget cuts WILL happen. Brown School must protect its middle school and resources & OBJECT cuts to the "Teaming Formula." Advocate for CHOICE in budget cuts being given to school leadership!
Help Advocate:
There are many ways you can advocate - do as many as you feel comfortable with:
Fill out the JCPS Feedback Form about the budget.
Email Brown School Board Member - Gail Logan Strange
If Gail Logan Strange is not your elected Board Member - then contact your JCSP Board Member to let them know that schools should have a choice in their budgets.
Attend the January 20th Board Meeting and let your voice be heard. If you can't make it in person - watch it online at JCPS BOE YouTube.
Feel free to share information to other parents in the district.
Mark Your Calendar for these important dates:
Next Tuesday - January 20th - JCPS Board Meeting where the budget will be presented the to JCPS Board of Education and the public.
The Following Tuesday -January 27th at 3:15 pm to 4:30 pm in Brown Auditorium - Brown PTSA will have a meeting about the proposed budget and Dr. Angela will join us to help understand what these changes will mean for Brown.
JCPS Board of Education meeting February 10th and March 10th.