DeKalb's School Budget Deficit: What Would You Do?

The DeKalb County School System is facing an $85-million deficit that's forced the school board to make some tough decisions.

The DeKalb School board is set to vote on a budget Wednesday, and that budget is going to cut deeply into district programs. The district is considering an array of cuts, like eliminating transportation to magnet programs, cutting a district supplement to pre-kindergarten programs, gutting funding for the popular Fernbank Science Center and eliminating extra teachers in magnet programs. Here are the big issues: Below is an explanation of some of the high-profile cuts the district is proposing. They aren't the biggest cuts, but they've received quite a bit of attention from county residents. Be sure and vote in our poll about how you would go about balancing the budget. And leave us some comments. Pre-kindergarten The district could save $2…

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Dunwoody High School will not face cuts

Board of Education's $35-million shortfall to be covered by upcoming tax

School construction projects in DeKalb County – including more than $1 million in improvements at Dunwoody High School – will not be cut, the DeKalb school board decided Monday night. The district was scrambling weeks ago to come up with a solution to make up for a more than $35-million deficit in a building program funded by a voter-approved penny sales tax. District officials failed to calculate interest owed on loans for the building program and also underestimated the cost of rebuilding Chamblee High School by $10 million. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the district will cover the costs with the next sales tax – called SPLOST IV - which voters approved and begins collecting revenue this summer. Stephen Wilkins, the …

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School board donates land for pump station

Property is at former Chamblee Middle School site

Letter: Nancy Jester addresses DeKalb school issues

She updates recent school deficit issues and talks about future redistricting for the BOE

Nancy Jester is the DeKalb School Board representing District 1, which includes Dunwoody and the surrounding areas. Issues regarding the Capital Improvement Program (SPLOST)    On February 29th, the DeKalb Board of Education was informed of a potential shortfall that may to occur if changes are not made to the planned spending for the remainder of SPLOST III.  Initially DeKalb school staff reported that the shortfall was $41.35 million.  On March 8th, at another called meeting, the BOE was informed that the shortfall had been revised to $36.52 million.  The Superintendent presented recommendations to the BOE to prevent the shortfall.  These include the reallocation of 114 projects to reduce SPLOST III by $33.78 million. This would mean not…

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Cheryl Miller

4:50 pm on Saturday, April 28, 2012

Hi Nancy, has the board done anything to announce to parents that the school board elections will take place this year in July as opposed to November when they traditionally would occur? Also, do you know why the election is being moved up? I'm just thinking about the number of complaints the board received when the cell tower decision took place last July because school was not in session and …   more ›

Daily 10

Daily PatchCast: Atkinson Promises Change, Sandy Springs Bank Robbery, Xerona Clayton Dedication

The day's top headlines for Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Atkinson To Focus On Students, Makes Changes Across System. Riverwood Audit Shows Several Areas Of Concern. Police Investigating Wednesday Morning Bank Robbery. Patch Profile: State Rep. Ed Lindsey Tucker Native Making An Impact At Stanford. Hundreds Celebrate Xerona Clayton Way.

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DeKalb School Board Passes $475M SPLOST Resolution

DeKalb County voters will be able to vote on the proposal in November.

8:45: Discussion about the SPLOST IV proposal begins. Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson is asking the board to approve the $475 million list. 8:47: Discussion of Henderson Mill and Hawthorne elementary being combined. That's not possible, Tyson said. She reviewed a series of changes to the initial proposal from several weeks ago. All documents can be found on the school system's website here. 8:49: Referndum would be in November 2011. A 1 cent sales tax, a school district official said. Resolution with City of Decatur Schools and Atlanta Public Schools. Will continue SPLOST for additional five years. 8:51: Board member Nancy Jester asks for ammendment. Wants language changed referencing a future Dunwoody elementary school. Board …

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