District Web site answers your questions
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After receiving a flood of questions about how Rock Hill schools will handle steep cuts in state funding next school year, Superintendent Lynn Moody decided to post answers where anyone can find them.
The school district's Web site boasts a list of 21 budget-related questions that spokeswoman Elaine Baker said came from teachers and parents.
The list includes:
Will student field trips be restricted next year?
Student field trips must align with standards and curriculum maps. The purpose of the trip and intended outcome must be shared with the school administrator when submitting a field trip request. Out-of-state and overnight travel will be restricted and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
What do you mean by "being family friendly"?
While the district has lost revenue and may continue to do so, there are no plans to cause families, who are also struggling financially during this time, to pay more for school supplies, fees, or school lunch, etc.
What is the average cost per pupil for Rock Hill Schools as compared to the state average?
The average cost per pupil in Rock Hill Schools for 2006-07 was $8,088 as compared to the state average of $8,577.
Why is Rock Hill Schools continuing to improve facilities in view of the budget crunch?
Construction funding comes from one-time revenue streams created specifically for each project and thus legally obligated to be used only for those respective projects. Operating or day-to-day expenses recur on an annual basis, so they are funded by revenue streams that replenish themselves each year.
In your Challenger press release, you mentioned $75,000 would pay for two classroom teachers. In past years, you've used $60,000 as an estimate for a teacher's equivalent salary. Which is it?
Like all school districts, Rock Hill Schools employs beginning teachers along with veterans. The $75,000 mentioned would come close to paying for the current salaries for two beginning teachers, as well as the district's share for retirement, worker's compensation, and Social Security.
Fort Mill has an outside group (Springs Complex) running their after-school program. Have you or would you consider allowing an outside group manage after-school programs in Rock Hill Schools?
This is a possibility, but we will be looking first and foremost at the recommendations made by the Challenger Review Committee.
Will the substitute teacher budget be reduced next year? How will classes be covered when teachers are out?
Each school will have a sub allocation. When that is exhausted, principals will work with teachers to determine how classrooms can be covered.
Can retired teachers volunteer to sub for teachers and not be paid?
The issue of people volunteering and not receiving pay for a job for which others do receive pay could be a Dept. of Labor problem. The district has also contracted with Kelly Educational Staffing to provide daily subs, so allowing unpaid volunteers to sub may entail additional contractual issues.
What is the effect or impact of federal stimulus funds?
The stimulus funds being debated for education in S.C. may mean the difference between a base student cost of $2,324 with the stimulus, or as little as $2,034 without these funds for a difference of about $5,000,000 for Rock Hill Schools.
Will there be a standard student instructional supply list next year?
Yes, supply lists for school year 2009-10 will be placed on school and district Web sites by June.
The post says people with questions should send them to Baker at ebaker@rock-hill.k12.sc.us. Baker said she plans to add new answers to the list as she gets them.
"We want people to ask questions," she said. "We don't want them wondering. We don't want them to circulate rumors."
Credit: The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.
After receiving a flood of questions about how Rock Hill schools will handle steep cuts in state funding next school year, Superintendent Lynn Moody decided to post answers where anyone can find them.
The school district's Web site boasts a list of 21 budget-related questions that spokeswoman Elaine Baker said came from teachers and parents.
The list includes:
Will student field trips be restricted next year?
Student field trips must align with standards and curriculum maps. The purpose of the trip and intended outcome must be shared with the school administrator when submitting a field trip request. Out-of-state and overnight travel will be restricted and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
What do you mean by "being family friendly"?
While the district has lost revenue and may continue to do so, there are no plans to cause families, who are also struggling financially during this time, to pay more for school supplies, fees, or school lunch, etc.
What is the average cost per pupil for Rock Hill Schools as compared to the state average?
The average cost per pupil in Rock Hill Schools for 2006-07 was $8,088 as compared to the state average of $8,577.
Why is Rock Hill Schools continuing to improve facilities in view of the budget crunch?
Construction funding comes from one-time revenue streams created specifically for each project and thus legally obligated to be used only for those respective projects. Operating or day-to-day expenses recur on an annual basis, so they are funded by revenue streams that replenish themselves each year.
In your Challenger press release, you mentioned $75,000 would pay for two classroom teachers. In past years, you've used $60,000 as an estimate for a teacher's equivalent salary. Which is it?
Like all school districts, Rock Hill Schools employs beginning teachers along with veterans. The $75,000 mentioned would come close to paying for the current salaries for two beginning teachers, as well as the district's share for retirement, worker's compensation, and Social Security.
Fort Mill has an outside group (Springs Complex) running their after-school program. Have you or would you consider allowing an outside group manage after-school programs in Rock Hill Schools?
This is a possibility, but we will be looking first and foremost at the recommendations made by the Challenger Review Committee.
Will the substitute teacher budget be reduced next year? How will classes be covered when teachers are out?
Each school will have a sub allocation. When that is exhausted, principals will work with teachers to determine how classrooms can be covered.
Can retired teachers volunteer to sub for teachers and not be paid?
The issue of people volunteering and not receiving pay for a job for which others do receive pay could be a Dept. of Labor problem. The district has also contracted with Kelly Educational Staffing to provide daily subs, so allowing unpaid volunteers to sub may entail additional contractual issues.
What is the effect or impact of federal stimulus funds?
The stimulus funds being debated for education in S.C. may mean the difference between a base student cost of $2,324 with the stimulus, or as little as $2,034 without these funds for a difference of about $5,000,000 for Rock Hill Schools.
Will there be a standard student instructional supply list next year?
Yes, supply lists for school year 2009-10 will be placed on school and district Web sites by June.
The post says people with questions should send them to Baker at ebaker@rock-hill.k12.sc.us. Baker said she plans to add new answers to the list as she gets them.
"We want people to ask questions," she said. "We don't want them wondering. We don't want them to circulate rumors."
Credit: The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.
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