State Education Cuts Hurt Lexington One

Lexington County School District One will have to operate without $1.5 million the district was expecting from the state for the 2012-2013 school year. 

Lexington One is one of three disricts in the Midlands and eight in the state that will have to cut money from their budgets after lawmakers eliminated a portion of education money from the state budget, according to a report in The State.

Lexington One will probably cover some of the $1.5 million with money from its committed fund balance, said Mary Beth Hill, chief communications officer for the district. 

Because of the state's history of reducing funding for schools over the past six years, Lexington One has grown its fund balance by "conservatively monitoring revenues and expenditures," Hill said. That preparation gives the district some flexibility when revenues from the state are decreased.

"Because we had prepared well, we have been able to maintain people’s jobs and marginally protect the instructional program," Hill said, "even though the district added more than 1,600 students from 2008–2009 to 2010–2011 yet decreased its staff."

Lexington One school board members approved a $190 million budget for the 2012-2013 school year, which includes start-up costs for the new Meadow Glenn Middle School and River Bluff High School, a 2 percent salary increase for employees and a step increase for employees.

A closer look at the budget

The district’s proposed general fund operating budget of $190,220,087:

• adds 39.5 positions needed for new schools
• adds 25.5 positions for growth, maintenance of class size ratios and school-level student-related services
• includes a step increase for employees (about $2.3 million)
• includes a two percent salary increase for all employees (about $2.5 million)
• continues to freeze the amount the district budgets for local supplements for National Board Certified Teachers (still frozen at the 2009–2010 level)
• reduces Career and Technology Education (CATE) teachers from 200 days to 195 days (Standard teacher contract is 190 days.) 
• includes no furlough days
• transfers allowable costs to capital funds 
• uses $6 million in fund balance
• includes no millage increase (tax increase)
• maintains current pupil to teacher ratios

Find more information about the budget on the district's website.