Buncombe County Schools Superintendent issues statement on local impact of state budget

After the General Assembly passed the state’s budget earlier this week, the hunt to understand the local implications of the budget begins. On Friday, July 26, Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Tony Baldwin released a statement about what the state budget may mean for the local public school system.

Baldwin says that at this time it appears that no assistants will lose employment as a result of these budget cuts despite a 21 percent reduction in state funds for teaching assistants, specifically K-3 assistants. However, he explains, that other changes may be coming as a result of the adopted budget. “The reduction of days employed for all assistants from 210 to 205 days and the elimination of 24 positions assigned beyond K-3 classrooms appear highly likely,” Baldwin says. “The possibility of reducing various categories of assistants from an eight- to a seven-hour daily schedule remains as a potential option dependent upon our specific allotments.”

Baldwin’s statement can be found in full below:

The final version of the 2013-15 state budget has received approval from the General Assembly. We are in the process of interpreting data from statewide appropriations into the specific dollar impact on our school system. In addition, an analysis of several pieces of new legislation that have significant implications to public school education is fully underway.

Over the past four years we have operated under a discretionary adjustment or reversion of state funds that has accumulated on a recurring basis to slightly over six million dollars. A major shift in our state budgeting process will be the elimination of the adjustment in favor of state-defined reductions in categories of allocations including classroom teachers, instructional support (media coordinators, counselors, etc.) and instructional supplies. As we transition into the sixth consecutive year of serious budgetary challenges, every effort will be made to place the highest budget priority on protecting the instructional environment especially at the classroom teacher level.

In 2012-13, Buncombe County Schools funded 276 full-time instructional assistant positions through state or local dollars. These staff members worked directly with students in kindergarten through third grade classrooms across our 24 elementary schools. The final state budget calls for a 21 percent reduction in state funds appropriated for K-3 assistants. While the percentage amount remained in question, the intent to reduce the allocation was apparent in the previous budget models and we were able to communicate the strong likelihood of the cuts to staff prior to the end of the school year. As we work toward determining specific dollar amounts within this category, the reduction of days employed for all assistants from 210 to 205 days and the elimination of 24 positions assigned beyond K-3 classrooms appear highly likely. The possibility of reducing various categories of assistants from an eight- to a seven-hour daily schedule remains as a potential option dependent upon our specific allotments. As a result of attrition, it appears at this time that no assistants will lose employment as a result of these budget cuts. Our intent is to provide written notification to any assistant directly impacted by a decision on or before August 1st.

Among the new components of legislation to soon impact our system is the Excellent Public Schools Act. A central theme of the act is the importance assigned to developing a successful K-3 foundation of literacy skills for each and every student. The Buncombe County School System strongly shares this core belief and recognizes the direct relationship between a weak foundation and a student’s struggle to graduate. For this reason, we believe that a full set of resources including both the classroom teacher and associated support staff is needed to provide the most productive instructional environment possible.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

One thought on “Buncombe County Schools Superintendent issues statement on local impact of state budget

  1. Susan Andrew

    The General Assembly is working to drive NC education in a race to the bottom. With this budget, NC teacher pay drops to 49th in the nation, and per-pupil spending in Buncombe County is cut for the sixth year running. Do we value high-quality public education in this community? Time for concerned citizens to speak up. One opportunity: August 5 at Pack Square Park, 4-6 p.m. See the facebook page for the Moral Mondays Movement in the Mountains. Then contact your lawmakers!

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.