|
 Budget Update
For the past four years, we have had to cut a significant amount from our annual budget, and this year will be no different. A reduction of up to $97 million is now anticipated for the 2011-12 school year.
Student achievement remains our highest priority, and we will continue to do everything we can to save revenue while keeping our focus on the classroom, but it is not possible to have this loss of revenue each year without impacting our students.
As a school district, we must be fiscally responsible and have a balanced budget. Unfortunately we cannot absorb this amount in our current budget, and are in the process of compiling a prioritized list of potential cuts. This information will be distributed to our schools, staff and School Board, as well as the community.
We need your help to engage our governor and legislature to minimize the cuts to public education as much as possible. The Duval County School Board and I have joined our counterparts across Florida, as well as teacher organizations, PTAs and others, to ask state legislators for decisive action that will limit the impact of the current economic crisis on public education.
Parents, DCPS' employees and citizens are being asked to contact legislators and make their priorities known to these decision makers.
During a tough financial climate for the state, the district understands the constraints that our legislators are under to provide a balanced budget. Please visit
our website for a list of our legislative priorities we would like for you to review.
After reviewing, please contact your legislators to make the Duval County Public Schools Legislative Agenda a priority during the 2011 legislative session.
We appreciate and thank you for your continued service on behalf of Duval County Public Schools' students.
Ed Pratt-Dannals
Superintendent
DCPS 2011 Budget Frequently Asked Questions
How much will DCPS have to cut from next year's budget?
Our anticipated shortfall for 2011-2012 is $97 million.
How much over the past four years has the district had to cut from its budget?
We have already had to cut more than $150 million from our budget over the past four years.
Why have budget reductions been necessary?
School district funding comes from local property taxes and from the state’s tax collections. Sales tax collections are down and property values are down locally as well as statewide, so the money available for K-12 education has shrunk. Without finding new sources of revenue, the state, and therefore our school district is forced to make cuts.
Are all Florida school districts experiencing the same thing?
Yes, all districts are seeing their funding reduced. However, districts are handling the funding reductions differently, and the amount they have to cut differs from county to county.
What has DCPS already done to cut costs?
Our school district has been cutting costs for the past four years, and major cost-cutting initiatives include: district staff cuts; secondary schedule change (shorter days and fewer classes); school consolidations; and reduction in transportation, including increasing the walk zone to schools from 1.5 miles to 2.
What are some budget reduction strategies the district is anticipating to make this year?
The district will have to review the possibility of reducing staff or the possibility of a furlough (leave of absence without pay) for all staff.
|
|
Five teachers were chosen from 158 school representatives as finalists for the 2011 Florida Blue Duval County Teacher of the Year. The 158 were narrowed to 15 semifinalists based on their informational packet, which included information about their professional development, classroom practices and knowledge of current educational topics.
The District Selection Committee interviewed the semifinalists and narrowed the list to the following five finalists:
Youmone Berrien, activities director and AP honors coordinator at First Coast High; Edward Moore, Language Arts teacher at Northwestern Middle; Andrew Hubbuch, fifth-grade teacher at Justina Road Elementary; Katy Burns, kindergarten teacher at Beauclerc Elementary; and Andrea Miranda, Language Arts teacher at Fort Caroline Middle.
 "The Teacher of the Year program honors teachers in our schools who have provided exemplary service in the classroom and shown outstanding commitment to our students," said Duval County Public Schools’ Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals. “These inspirational teachers are the foundation of Duval County public schools, and we are honored to have such devoted individuals in our schools.”
The 2011 Florida Blue Duval County Teacher of the Year will be announced at the EDDY Awards on Thursday, March 17, 2011, at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. The EDDY Awards are hosted by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund and the Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership. Duval County’s Teacher of the Year will then go on to compete for the state-wide title.
|
|
The American Chorale Directors Association (ACDA) has selected the Chorale Women from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts to perform at their national conference in Chicago. The group is one of only two high school choral groups selected throughout the country.
 Thousands of the world’s top choral leaders along with an exemplary selection of the nation’s best choirs gather for the ACDA national conference. The Douglas Anderson students will participate in concerts, interest sessions, exhibits and networking during the four-day event, which will be held March 9-12 at the Chicago Hilton.
The DA Chorale Women will perform on the final day of the conference, Saturday, March 12, in the historic Chicago Orchestra Hall in the morning, and the prestigious Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in the afternoon.
The group is directed by Jeffrey Clayton, vocal music department chair/conductor, and the student vocalists are Lina Abadia, Taylor Alexander, Katie Baltz, Jessica Barker, Anna Barnes, Jordan Bigbee, Alexis Brandenburger, Samantha Buckler, Victoria Canady, Samantha Cardozo, Chelsea Carter, Mercita Chernyshev, Ambber Cole, Natalie Comeaux, Samantha Cruz, Marley Curtis, Jennifer Davis, Fallon Demers, Beverly Driskill, Katie Dutton, Caryn Fyfe, Katherine Garner, Danielle Giacchetto, Olivia Giacchetto, Nicole Gibson, Brianna Glenn, Summer Goodman, Jenniviev Gubat, Sofia Iaquinto, Kristianna Jones, Lexi Kimes, Amber Kingsley, Victoria Kinney, Alaina Lamounette, Perry Lanier, Krishaun Lavalais, Sam Lennon, Anna Mans, Katie McIver, Amelia Neumann, Karyssa Nevins, Brittany Newton, Demi Nicks, Maggie Nicks, Alex Peugnet, Kaley Porter, Jazmyn Price, Jubel Puthusseril, Holly Putnam, Nalani Quintello, Daniyela Radzivilyuk, Kaylin Roberts, Regina Russo, Kelsie Saison, Alex Scheininger, Dani Schmidt, Jannie Schnippert, Markeis Simon, Alyssa Smith, Natalie Smith, Stephanie Smith, Olivia Soares, Lindsey Sweat and Samantha Vallejo.
Founded in 1959, the ACDA is a nonprofit music-education organization whose central purpose is to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research and teaching.
|
|
The Superintendent will be hosting a series of community budget meetings to discuss our current and upcoming financial situation, available revenue and the district's plans to meet its mission of providing all students with high quality educational opportunities.
Your feedback is important. Please
attend one of the following meetings, all held at 6 p.m.:
|
March
2 |
Student Early Release Day |
15 |
Duval County Council of PTAs/PTSAs Meeting - DCPS' Administration Building, Cline Auditorium, 10 a.m. |
21 |
District Advisory Council (DAC) Meeting - DCPS' Administration Building, 6th Floor Conference Room, 6 p.m. |
21 |
Community Budget Meeting - Andrew Jackson H.S., 6 p.m. |
22 |
Community Budget Meeting - Ed White H.S., 6 p.m. |
23 |
Student Early Release Day |
25 |
Teacher Planning Day (No school for students) |
28-April 1 |
Spring Break (Schools Closed) |
April
4 |
Community Budget Meeting - Atlantic Coast H.S., 6 p.m. |
5 |
School Board Meeting - DCPS Administration Building, Cline Auditorium, 6 p.m. |
6 |
Student Early Release Day |
18 |
District Advisory Council (DAC) Meeting - DCPS' Administration Building, 6th Floor Conference Room, 6 p.m. |
19 |
Duval County Council of PTAs/PTSAs Meeting - DCPS' Administration Building, Cline Auditorium, 10 a.m. |
20 |
Student Early Release Day |
22 |
Spring Holiday |
25 |
Schools Closed |
|
Duval County Public Schools
1701 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32207
www.duvalschools.org
Superintendent
Ed Pratt-Dannals
School Board Members
Frequently Called Numbers
Main Line
904-390-2000
Transportation
904-858-6200
Human Resources
904-390-2840
School Board Office
904-390-2293
Community & Family
Engagement
904-390-2960
|
News Update
Looking for the latest school and district news? Read our most recent news releases, visit our
Spotlight on Education section or tune in to dcpsTV for a detailed look into what's going on at DCPS.
|
|
