COLUMBIA — The following is a brief summary of the 132-page draft of the 2009-2010 budget for Columbia Public Schools and its introduction. The budget can be viewed in its entirety at www.columbia.k12.mo.us
The Columbia School Board is likely to vote on the budget Thursday evening. Before that, starting at 6 p.m., the public is invited to comment on the budget. The meeting is in the district administration building, 1818 W. Worley St.
Total anticipated revenue: $196,127,470
Total budgeted expenditures: $201,383,498
Total anticipated revenue for the operating budget, which covers such things as salaries and running schools: $157,938,265
Total budgeted expenditures for the operating budget: $157,930,597
**This is the first balanced operating budget since 2001-2002.
Total budget cuts: $4,404,519
Total positions cut: 71.05 full-time equivalents. A full-time employee receives an FTE value of one, while an 0.50 FTE value indicates the person only works half-time. When translated, this means the equivalent of 71.05 total positions are eliminated by the 2009-10 budget.
Some of the eliminated positions include:
Doctoral stipends eliminated: Thirty-eight district employees with doctoral degrees will lose a $2,000 stipend that had been added in the 2007-08 budget — saves $83,790.
District funds for Title I preschool program cut: saves $80,000
Elementary and middle school field trip budgets completely cut: saves $22,161
Stipends for sponsoring teachers halved: Stipends budgeted for teacher sponsorship of student clubs and activities will be reduced by 50 percent — saves $59,889.
Ten percent of elementary schools’ supplies cut: includes office items, paper, etc. — saves $23,655
Five percent cut in the elementary supervision budget: includes supervising for lunch, the playground and before/after school — saves $19,249
High schools and Career Center student support reductions: 3.5 outreach and student support FTE positions eliminated — saves $200,430
Added to the 2009-10 budget
Operation of salary schedules: The proposed budget includes the operation of the hourly support staff salary schedules, but not the operation of the teacher salary schedule.
One time stipend for all salaried personnel: A 1 percent stipend will be distributed in December to all salaried personnel for two additional days of work.
Budgeted FTE increases: An increase of one FTE means the finances for an additional full-time worker were added onto the 2009-2010 budget.
Some of the new positions include the following:
Increased textbook budgets: New math curriculum will be purchased for elementary, middle, junior high and high schools
Five mobile classrooms for elementary: cost $60,000