As we
approach the end of the school year, I would like to
take a moment to thank each of you for your hard
work and dedication to your students’ education and
to Duval County Public Schools.
We are
going to be entering the next school year with a
budget shortfall of nearly $70 million due to the
sales tax revenue shortfall, Amendment 1 and fixed
cost increases. However, we are doing everything we
can to make sure that the impact to our students is
minimal.
Although the Legislature allowed us flexibility in
using capital money for operating, the $70 million
shortfall to next year’s budget could potentially
cause a reduction in salary and benefits for
teachers and administrative staff, reduction in
programs and the cutback of employees.
Unfortunately the state did not provide us with the
sufficient funds to effectively run a large urban
school district. Florida was ranked at the bottom of
a 2006 census bureau report on public education
finances, and there is no reason to believe that we
are not there now.
District officials will remain steadfast in our
dedication to providing quality education to all of
our students, and we will continue to ensure that
Duval County students receive all of the proper
tools and training they need to succeed.
Thanks
again for all that you do, and for your continued
support of Duval County Public Schools.
