County increases operational funding to Macon schools
After further negotiations, Macon County Schools and the county commissioners will both have some skin in the game when it comes to making sure the schools have enough funding for the upcoming school year.
County Manager Derek Roland had originally proposed increasing school funding for capital projects by $200,000 while decreasing the schools’ allocation for operational funds by $342,000.
School Superintendent Chris Baldwin asked commissioners to restore the cut to operational funds after explaining all the state funding uncertainties the school system is facing.
Roland and Baldwin came back before commissioners last week with a compromise — the county will contribute another $143,000 to school operating expenses if the school system will dip into it’s fund balance for the rest. That means Macon County Schools will need to use $200,000 out of its reserves to make up the shortfall, but Baldwin was amenable to the concession.
But that meant Roland had to shift some things around in the proposed 2016-17 budget to make up that additional $143,000. The budget did contain a $150,000 line item for improvements to the playground at Wesley’s Park and the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building. Roland said that funding shifted over to the schools, but he recommended using $150,000 from the county’s fund balance to fund the park and Carpenter building improvements.
“We have one of the most healthy fund balances in the state — and that money’s there for one-time capital projects,” Roland said. “These are two of the most highly trafficked areas in the county… we owe it to the citizens to ensure they are top notch.”
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Commissioners agreed it was a good compromise between the county and the school system. A public hearing was held on the budget, but no one offered any comment or criticisms. Commission Chairman Kevin Corbin said the board typically doesn’t vote on the budget the same night as the public hearing so members have time to digest feedback, but since there was none offered, he made a motion to approve the $47.7 million budget. The motion passed unanimously.
That wasn’t the end of the board’s discussion about education funding. John deVille, a high school history teacher in Macon County, approached the commissioners about approving a resolution to send to Raleigh asking the General Assembly to restore local education funding to 2008 levels.
Restoring K-12 funding to 2008 levels would mean an additional $850 per student in Macon County. With more than 4,000 students enrolled, it would equate to about $3.5 million more a year for Macon County Schools. As it stands now, Macon County has 100 more students than it did in 2008 but is operating with 34 fewer teachers.
“At some point we can’t do more with less,” deVille said.
He said increasing class size from 24 to 30 did make a difference in the classroom — it means students don’t get as much individual attention and essays don’t get the constructive feedback they need.
“I see the quality of writing in my history classes down and I think it’s because they aren’t getting the same quality attention they used to,” he said.
deVille said teachers are teaching classes during their planning periods and physical education is being taught online for Union Academy because there aren’t enough teachers. The state legislature keeps saying they are increasing funding for education, but that funding is going toward teacher raises, charter schools and private school vouchers. While he agrees increasing teacher pay is a positive, it isn’t helping the immediate needs in the classroom.
“No matter what kind of voodoo numbers someone wants to present to you, no North Carolina child, teacher, parent or administrator can escape the overcrowded classroom or the classroom without a teacher assistant or courses that are simply not offered anymore,” he said.
Macon County School Board, Buncombe County, Transylvania County and the city of Asheville have passed the same resolution. deVille commended the commissioners for contributing more to the schools operational expenses, but asked that they approve the resolution in order to get the legislature to meet their fiscal responsibilities.
“I’d like to see you raise the millage rate so we have another million dollars (for the schools), but I know it’s not politically attainable,” deVille said. “But this won’t cost you anything except maybe some political popularity in Raleigh.”
Commissioners agreed to pass the resolution, but after questioning a few of the statistics outlined in the document — including a statement that North Carolina is 46th in per-pupil funding — the board agreed to double check the facts and bring it back for a vote at the next meeting.
