Local Budget

The Board of Commissioners are discussing other proposals to address local school funding. A memo to the Board of Education outlines most recent discussions with commissioners related to funding Davie County Schools.

Memo from Superintendent to the Board of Education on June 11, 2012

A Public Hearing for the county budget is scheduled for tonight, June 14 at 6:00 PM at the Davie County Courthouse on Main Street in Mocksville, and the county budget is scheduled to be adopted at that meeting.

State Budget

For the past several years, school districts in the state have been required to identify discretionary reductions. Last year, the discretionary reduction for DCS was over $1.9 million, and $429 million statewide. In 2012-13, we are scheduled to identify over $2.1 million in discretionary reductions to the state, and the overall state discretionary reduction is scheduled to exceed $500 million. To state it simply, the State of North Carolina provides an allotment to the school districts and we must turn around and identify part of that allotment to return to the state.

The NC House adopted a budget over the past two weeks that reduces that discretionary reduction significantly, a move in the right direction! The NC Senate is scheduled to vote on their version of the budget today. The Senate budget is not as favorable to public schools in NC.

The Senate's budget provides a 1.2 percent pay increase for state employees, but does not move teachers or other educators on the salary schedule at all. Teachers have not received a salary increase in four years. The Senate budget bill is more than a budget. It is a policy bill that includes many elements of Senate Bill 795, The Excellent Public Schools Act. This bill includes significant changes to the school calendar, teacher tenure, school accountability, student promotion policies and more. Parents, educators, business people, citizens have never had an opportunity to debate these significant changes to public education.

After the Senate adopts their budget, the House and Senate will assign a conference committee to settle differences between their two budgets, before a final budget is adopted.

If you wish to contact your representatives related to the state budget for public education, their contact information is linked here.

2011-12 was a successful year for Davie County Schools. We have so much for which to be proud. I am overwhelmed at the support I have seen for our schools over the past several weeks and appreciate your continued encouragement and support. It is evident that the citizens of Davie County support their public school system and see it as a wise investment in the future of our fine county. I look forward to working with each of you to make our district even better in the coming years.

We will continue to work diligently over the summer to prepare our schools and our staff for another exciting school year in 2012-13. I can't wait for the first day of school on August 27, 2012!

I wish each of you a safe and restful summer! There are great days ahead!