What's at Stake: FY2010 K-12 Education Budget and Policies
On August 12, the Senate by Republican-only vote passed the budget bills minus the Governor's key piece - the referral of the sales tax.  The budget that was passed today mirrors the budget that the Republican Legislature passed on June 30/July 1.  This means that the Governor will get the exact same budget bills she has already vetoed.  Below is a summary of the bill as it impacts K-12 education.  Tell us what you think about these policy changes.  Visit www.march4schools.com to learn how to get involved.

K-12 funding cuts

• No 2% inflation funding ($102 million cut)
• This budget repeals the 2% inflation factor for the base funding level for this school year (the 2009-10 school year).  This is the money the legislature gave to school districts on a bi-partisan vote during the special session on July 6.  This is a loss of $102 million statewide, which is approximately $102 per student. 
• Soft Capital Reduction ($175 million cut)
• This budget reduces soft capital funding by $175 million.  Soft capital is the money districts receive to provide classroom support - things like textbooks, technology, library resources, instructional aids, etc.  The soft capital dollar amount per student has not increased since 1998, and this budget proposal intends to sweep nearly all the remaining funds for soft capital expenditures.  This will leave teachers paying nearly all classroom expenditures out of their own pockets.
• No Funding for Actual Utility Costs ($80 million cut)
• There will be no funding provided to pay for the new utility formula that was passed in the 2008 legislative session for "excess utilities" (this is an $80 million cut to school districts that previously levied for "excess utilities").
• Reduced funds for Career Ladder
• Districts with the Career Ladder program will have their Career Ladder budget reduced (from 5.5% to 5%), and no new teachers will be able to participate this school year.
• Permanent repeal of school tax
• Eliminates the school tax (state equalization property tax) which is a loss of $250 million annually. 

Policy changes targeted against teachers and association members

• Release time and association time
• It would be unlawful for a school district employment contract to include compensated days for professional association activities.  This means all release time and professional association time will no longer be able to be compensated in any way by the district.  All bargaining and association time will need to occur outside of the normal school day.
• No contract dates
• A school district will no longer have to issue contracts by May 15 to teachers with continuing status.
• Salary reductions
• The May 15 statutory deadline for notice of salary reduction will be removed and school districts will now set their own salary reduction deadline.
• Teachers with continuing status
• A school district will be prohibited from adopting policies that provide employment retention priority for teachers based on "tenure" or seniority.
• A school district will be able to reduce the salary of a teacher with continuing status in any manner.  The statutory protection currently says a salary reduction of a teacher with continuing status can only occur under a general salary reduction.
• Probationary teachers
• Probationary teachers will no longer have to be notified of nonrenewal by April 15.
• A school district will no longer have to give a preferred right of reappointment to a job for a teacher who has lost his/her job through the reduction-in-force (RIF) process.

THE FIGHT CONTINUES
Check www.march4schools.com for updates