News
Budget cuts could mean major changes in schools
January 20, 2010
Budget cuts could mean major changes in schools
S.C. plan would reduce required credits, school year, supplies
By GINA SMITH
House budget writers are considering shortening the school year by five days, reducing the number of credits needed for graduation and cutting the amount of money the state gives teachers for classroom supplies.
The cost-saving moves are intended to get in front of education cuts that are inevitable given the $530 million budget hole lawmakers are attempting to fill.
Tuesday, a panel of House lawmakers and the state Department of Education began weighing options on ways to save money.
Republican Reps. Lanny Littlejohn, of Spartanburg, and Dwight Loftis, of Greenville, say lopping off the last five days of the 180-day school year could be part of the solution.
"There's not a lot of productivity in those finals days following testing," Loftis said. "If (the change) were for just one year, I'd be OK with it."
The cut, which would mean five days of no work and no pay for teachers and support staff, would save the state $105 million, according to the state Department of Education.
State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex said he's not in favor of the option.
"It's going in the wrong direction," he said, adding that likely changes in federal education law would require longer school years, not shorter ones.
And teachers, many of whom already have endured furloughs from their local school districts, are certain to resist losing another five days in pay, said Kathy Maness, director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association.
"They're not going to be happy about this at all," said Maness, who was e-mailing teachers Tuesday informing them of the proposal. "Morale is already as low as I've ever seen it."
A shorter school year is one of several options on the table for K-12 schools, which have been cut more than $700 million over the past 18 months. K-12 education comprises 37 percent of this year's annual general fund budget, more than $2 billion.
Schools have benefited from federal stimulus money. The state Department of Education said 500 teaching jobs were saved this school year because of the federal shot in the arm.
But the state is suffering through revenue cuts under an ailing economy and high jobless numbers. State economists will meet today and could make another revenue forecast, giving lawmakers a target for funding.
Another cost-cutting option is lowering the 24 high school credits required to earn a diploma in the Palmetto State.
South Carolina is one of only four states that requires 24 credits. Georgia requires 22 credits and North Carolina 21.
The savings would come from high schools switching from block scheduling back to traditional six-period schedules, allowing for fewer classes and fewer teachers.
Molly Spearman, now director of the S.C. Association of School Administrators, was a legislator in the mid-'90s when the number of credits was raised to 24 from 20.
"We wanted to be very rigorous," Spearman recalled Tuesday. "But to be honest with you, I don't know if there's any magic in it being 24. Maybe we went too far and should try to get back in step with our neighboring states."
Rex said the change would hurt students who decide late they want to go to college, giving them less flexibility in getting into required classes.
Other options being considered:
- Eliminating the state's Education Oversight Committee which is a watchdog for the state's schools. "It was a great idea 10 years ago," Rex said. "But we've not got a lot of accountability now we didn't have 10 years ago."
- Reducing to $100 the $275 given annually to teachers for school supplies.
- Eliminating testing that is not federally mandated, including end of course tests for high school students and some science and social studies testing in elementary school. That potentially would save $2 million.
A panel of House lawmakers will reconvene today to consider more options.
Reach Smith at (803) 771-8658 or by email at gnsmith@thestate.com .
