Updates: Caddo budget

Times archieves

What was discussed at the Caddo Parish School Board budget work session on Monday?

• When schools Superintendent Gerald Dawkins said he was considering everything to get the district where it needed to be, he was serious. Whether the district will implement A/B block scheduling in high schools next year is in question. The new schedule could be phased in at certain schools or scratched altogether.
• The daily operating cost for the school district is $1 million.
• How will the student-teacher ratio be impacted if the staffing formula is changed?
• How much is it costing the district to hire retirees?
• Has the district ever had deficit spending, where expenditures exceeded revenue? Yes. In 2001-02 there was deficit spending of $9.6 million and in the 2002-03 school year it was $4.9 million.
• The district is projecting $9 million in deficit spending this year. That money was covered by the fund balance, which is now at $33 million.
• In the 2003-04 school year there was a projected fund balance deficit of $12 million, but by law the board could not adopt a budget with a deficit fund balance. As a result, reductions were made.
• This year the projected $10 million deficit fund balance will also result in reductions. If not, this would mean the board would end the year with a negative fund balance, which is not permitted by law.

The board will see a draft of the 2010-11 budget at its regular meeting on June 1at 4:30 p.m. at the School Board office, 1961 Midway St. There will be a special work session on June 2.

The goal is to approve a budget by June 15. A budget must be adopted by June 30.

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