A meeting was held Tuesday evening at the Newton School south of Fairhope to "provide information, gain better understanding, and develop a plan of action"-- to deal with the school system's current financial problems.
Superintendent Dr. Faron Hollinger: "This economic downturn . . . is deeper, broader, longer lasting . . . than any I've seen . . . and . . . there is no foreseeable end to it. Proration is our problem, not loss of local revenue. We depended on figures given us by the state . . . expected 3% . . . but got word (2008) . . . it had grown to 12.5%."
Board Member Bob Callahan: "We're over $5 million short. . . . has to come from somewhere . . . or state (may) come in (and) do it for us."
Hollinger: "We're operating on 2005-06 level revenue . . . with 2009 level growth . . . unprecedented challenges."
Central Administrator Lester Smith: ". . . toughest deal I've seen in my 41 years with the school board."
Commissioner Frank Burt: "This crisis is real . . . a tsunami . . ."
When questioned about what has been called excessive new school building construction, Hollinger responded that the capital bond construction money being used was dedicated only for that purpose-- and could not be used elsewhere; and there was no hint of impending crisis/problems from Wall St. bankers in 2007 when the money was being borrowed there(Moody's). Hollinger: "They told us everything was . . . a go . . . no warning." He added the number of portable classrooms has dropped from 206 then, to 50 today.
Responding to another question, several board members expressed frustration with "tenured" employees: "The fair dismissal and tenure laws. . . are horrible laws . . . takes an Act of Congress to terminate a bad employee." "A (current) cafeteria manager was once a PE aide . . . may have slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night . . . but(?) . . . tenure not qualifications seem most important."
When questioned, Commissioner Bishop said he would support a voter referendum on a sales or property tax increase; but that could take as long as 2 months to happen. Commissioners Burt and Gruber also expressed support for a referendum. Burt: "People want to vote on it."
Citing loss of jobs, dividends, interest, high insurance, etc., Commissioner Burt cautioned that citizens were hurting financially too, not just schools and governments.
Everyone seemed in agreement that the state's "equity funding" mandate was the primary cause of the crisis--and Bishop revealed that former District Attorney Whetstone may be planning a lawsuit to "get it into court." Bishop: "We believe Baldwin County is getting a raw deal."
If more revenue can't be raised, Hollinger warned of "drastic measures" such as consolidation of schools and "across the board" cuts to extracurricular activities (art, music, sports, etc.)." Hollinger: "I wont let the state come in and take over."
Bishop said more meetings were planned soon between the County Commission and School Board; and a "special" commission meeting could be called.
A meeting was held Tuesday evening at the Newton School south of Fairhope to "provide information, gain better understanding, and develop a plan of action"-- to deal with the school system's current financial problems.
Superintendent Dr. Faron Hollinger: "This economic downturn . . . is deeper, broader, longer lasting . . . than any I've seen . . . and . . . there is no foreseeable end to it. Proration is our problem, not loss of local revenue. We depended on figures given us by the state . . . expected 3% . . . but got word (2008) . . . it had grown to 12.5%."
Board Member Bob Callahan: "We're over $5 million short. . . . has to come from somewhere . . . or state (may) come in (and) do it for us."
Hollinger: "We're operating on 2005-06 level revenue . . . with 2009 level growth . . . unprecedented challenges."
Central Administrator Lester Smith: ". . . toughest deal I've seen in my 41 years with the school board."
Commissioner Frank Burt: "This crisis is real . . . a tsunami . . ."
When questioned about what has been called excessive new school building construction, Hollinger responded that the capital bond construction money being used was dedicated only for that purpose-- and could not be used elsewhere; and there was no hint of impending crisis/problems from Wall St. bankers in 2007 when the money was being borrowed there(Moody's). Hollinger: "They told us everything was . . . a go . . . no warning." He added the number of portable classrooms has dropped from 206 then, to 50 today.
Responding to another question, several board members expressed frustration with "tenured" employees: "The fair dismissal and tenure laws. . . are horrible laws . . . takes an Act of Congress to terminate a bad employee." "A (current) cafeteria manager was once a PE aide . . . may have slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night . . . but(?) . . . tenure not qualifications seem most important."
When questioned, Commissioner Bishop said he would support a voter referendum on a sales or property tax increase; but that could take as long as 2 months to happen. Commissioners Burt and Gruber also expressed support for a referendum. Burt: "People want to vote on it."
Citing loss of jobs, dividends, interest, high insurance, etc., Commissioner Burt cautioned that citizens were hurting financially too, not just schools and governments.
Everyone seemed in agreement that the state's "equity funding" mandate was the primary cause of the crisis--and Bishop revealed that former District Attorney Whetstone may be planning a lawsuit to "get it into court." Bishop: "We believe Baldwin County is getting a raw deal."
If more revenue can't be raised, Hollinger warned of "drastic measures" such as consolidation of schools and "across the board" cuts to extracurricular activities (art, music, sports, etc.)." Hollinger: "I wont let the state come in and take over."
Bishop said more meetings were planned soon between the County Commission and School Board; and a "special" commission meeting could be called.
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