This first month of the 2010-2011 school year in Brevard has been extremely busy. My calendar has been filled with school visits and in every school I have seen hard working staff making sure our schools are ready for our students each and every day. It has always amazed me how so much must get done, with limited staff and limited time, but it always does. It gets done because everyone in the Brevard Schools community, from secretaries, custodians, and bus drivers to teachers, assistants, and administrators, truly cares about our students and providing the best possible learning environment. This sentiment carries beyond the traditional school walls to every area of the organization. For example, you will see it in our financial services department.

Herbert Hoover, our 31st President once said, “About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends.” Our finance department has faced and continues to face difficult challenges in an economic climate where the “ends” seem to be continually moving. Fortunately, the BPS Finance Team, under the direction of Judy Preston, Associate Superintendent of Financial Services, is up to the task. Not only do they like working collaboratively with the many BPS stakeholders, but they bring flexibility, strong analytical skills and a commitment to the students and staff of Brevard Public Schools.

In the coming month, as we get closer to Election Day on November 2, you will hear about several school-related issues, Class Size Amendment and the 0.25 Critical Needs Millage. I encourage you to research these issues and learn more by attending community meetings that our schools will host throughout September and October. We will post the dates of these meetings on www.brevardschools.org. To assist you with your research, in this issue of the Mark of Excellence, I would like to answer some frequently asked

questions pertaining to our budget and the way funds are managed.

How do our schools receive their funding?

Federal funds make up less than 1% of the district’s overall operating budget and consist of Impact Aid and Medicaid Reimbursement. Brevard receives 51.12% of its operating budget from the state. These state funds are comprised of the Florida Education Finance Program, Class Size Reduction, School Recognition, Workforce Development, and other smaller state allocations. Local Funds are derived primarily from millage revenue, which is driven by property taxes. Local funds equal 46.8% of the BPS operating budget. Local funds have been dramatically impacted by the sharp decline in property values.

What is millage?

A property tax or millage tax is an ad valorem tax that an owner of real estate (land and/or home) pays on the value of the property being taxed. A mill = one dollar of taxes levied for every $1,000 of the assessed value of a property. The legislature determines how much a school district may levy. During the 2009 Legislative Session, the State Legislature authorized School Boards by super majority vote to levy an additional quarter mill for critical needs, which was passed. The funds generated from this 0.25 Critical Needs Millage was used to continue and support existing programs and staff.

Where your dollar goes?

The majority (80¢) goes directly to serve students in the form of teachers, buses, counselors, and other activities or staff. Items that support students such as school libraries, curriculum development, staff development, represent 5¢ of the dollar, while services to support schools such as technology and central offices represent 3¢. Facilities operation, including electricity and maintenance, represent the last portion of the dollar (12¢).

How many students, teachers, administrator, and other staff are there in BPS?

Projected membership for BPS for the 2010-2011 school year is 73,065 students which includes basic, exceptional, vocational and dropout programs. Our projected number of employees is 9,016 which include over 5000 instructional staff.

What is the district administration ratio compared to the teacher ratio?

In 2009-2010, Brevard district-level administrators equaled 0.49% of the total full-time staff. The state average district-level administrators (minus Brevard) were equal to 0.97% of the total staff. We would have needed to double our number of administrators to meet the state average. In 2009-10, BPS had 44 district level administrators and in 2010-2011, we have only 39 district level administrators.

Last year, Brevard teachers comprised 52.7% of the total full-time staff. The state average was 50.8%. If Brevard wanted to match the state average, there would have be 164 less instructional staff in our classrooms. The 2010-2011 budget added $5.7 million in teaching stipends and positions to meet Class Size requirements.

How can the community tell if Brevard Public Schools is doing a good job with the money?

As with any business, the best indicator of good value is the satisfaction of the community. Our community includes parents, staff, businesses and government agencies. The district as a whole has looked at every avenue to cut costs, save money and continue programs. For example, in energy savings alone we conserved over $700,000. This amount equates to the district’s cost for running 9th grade athletics, junior varsity athletics, middle school athletics and middle school intramurals combined. Our financial efficiency is evident as illustrated by two financial awards. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded BPS a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, 1 of only 266 governmental agencies in Florida to receive this award. Additionally, The Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) has awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting to the School Board of Brevard County for achieving the highest standards in governmental accounting and reporting. Brevard was one of only 15 school districts in Florida to receive the ASBO. BPS has received both of these awards for the last 10 consecutive years.

We have all heard that “the proof is in the pudding” and the results are clear. Brevard students excel in all areas. Our graduation rates are high and our dropout rates are low. The district has a grade of A for the seventh consecutive year with 99% of elementary and middle schools receiving a grade of A or B. The district has been able to save parents upward of $1 million in cost avoidance by paying for exam fees for students to take the AP, IB, AICE and ACT Tests. In addition, families that have students who pass these exams, or who are successful in college coursework such as dual enrollment, have saved over $6 million in college tuition and books for those courses. These accomplishments are outstanding, and I know they can only be attributed to the hard work of our students, teachers, staff, parents and volunteers. Together, we are proving that BPS is serving every student with excellence.

What’s on the horizon?

The end of the 2010-11 school year will bring the end of stimulus funds from the federal government, and without additional intervention, our school district will be faced with a budget shortfall. On the November 2 ballot, the voters of Brevard County will be given the opportunity to decide whether to give the School Board the authority to continue to levy the 0.25 millage in the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 fiscal years should there be a critical need. The item on the ballot is not an increase in millage levy (tax) as the School Board does not want any additional burden to local taxpayers. For 2010-11 BPS critical needs millage generates $8 million. Because Brevard’s millage levy is less than the state average, the state will give BPS an additional $1.6 million to meet the average, generating a total of $9.6 million for BPS Critical Needs. If the critical needs millage is discontinued, BPS will lose not only the revenue generated by the 0.25 levy, but also the additional compression dollars of $1.6 million provided by the state. On November 2, taxpayers may decide whether to give the School Board the authority to continue with the same 0.25 Critical Needs Millage, keeping approximately $9.6 million in our budget to offset the shortfall preserving academic programs and/or valuable staff.

OFFICIAL BALLOT

Referendum Election –November 2, 2010

School District of Brevard County, Florida

Authority Of The School Board To Continue To Levy 0.25 Mills For Critical Operating Needs

Shall the School Board have the authority, by an annual super majority vote for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 fiscal years, to continue to levy 0.25 mills for critical operating needs pursuant to Section 1011.71(3)(b), Florida Statutes?

_____YES _____NO

As I stated in the beginning of my letter, our schools will be holding informational meetings during the months of September and October regarding the district’s budget. The purpose of these meetings is to provide you with information and answer questions so that you can make an informed decision in November. Dates and times of these meetings will be communicated through your school and on the district’s web site.

And finally, I would like to say a few words about the Class Size Amendment. Also on the November 2 ballot, the voters of Brevard County will be given the opportunity to vote for flexibility in the current constitutional restrictive Class Size Amendment that went into effect this school year, 2010-11. If the Amendment is approved, schools will still need to meet class size, but at the school average. This will give schools the ability to make decisions which will result in less disruption to student learning as well as provide the district with substantial budget savings. You can read more about the Class Size Amendment on page 12 of this month's Mark of Excellence or visit our web site, www.brevardschools.org. During these difficult financial times and with significant turmoil involving the Space Coast’s major industries, Brevard Public Schools continue to stay on course and keep its eye on its major objective – to educate and prepare students for the world outside. I am extremely proud that our administrators, employee groups, and support staff, under the calm and measured direction of our School Board, continue to work cohesively and cooperatively to provide our students with the best possible education. I believe cooperation is the key when navigating through difficult times and we certainly have had our share with more on the horizon. The Brevard community has a tradition of banding together and functioning as a family with all stakeholders agreeing to put children first. I am very fortunate to be a part of this “family” and am eagerly looking forward to future, with all of its excitement and challenges.