Family Email 6.2.23

How does local funding to schools work?

Local funding comes in two pots of money- current expenses and capital outlay.

Current expense funding is provided as a per pupil allotment based upon every child in Franklin County who attends either a public or charter school. 

What is the increase we are asking from the county for current expenses and why?

The request for the upcoming year includes a minimum increase of $3,417,214. This significant increase is due to two factors: 

1. Increased student enrollment. Due to significant growth in the area, Franklin County public and charter school enrollment is increasing rapidly (over 985 more students in a two year period of time). 

2. Inflationary cost increases. Over the 2021 and 2022 years, inflationary costs increased nationally by over 15%. During that same time period, Franklin County public and charter school students did not receive increased funding reflective of inflation rates, and since enrollment increased significantly we saw a reduction in per pupil allocation due to funding being divided among more students. We are requesting a less than 9% increase in funding per pupil for all Franklin County students being served in either public or charter schools for the 2023-24 school year from the 2021-22 rate of $2167 (this rate dropped to $2102 this year due to underfunding from the county). This will adjust the per pupil allocation to $2,350 per student.

Do charter schools receive local funds?

Yes. According to state law, the funds follow the student. Approximately 25% of local funds designated to Franklin County Schools for current expenses go directly to charter schools. This means that for every $.75 needed for Franklin County Schools to operate, we must request $1.00 so that $.25 can go directly to charter schools serving Franklin County residents.

What is the County Manager’s recommendation for funding our current expenses request?

The County Manager’s recommendation for current expense funding is a $756,884 increase- over $2.6 million less than is needed to maintain our current operations. At this funding level, our students would receive a per pupil allocation of $2102 which is $65.00 less per pupil than the rate funded by the county in 2021-22, and it is just $2.00 above the 2019-2020 rate, five years and a 17% increase in inflation later.

What do these funds pay for, and what could potentially be impacted by a reduction in current expense funding?

• Supplies and materials for students and teachers

• Employee benefits

• The 8% local teacher supplement

• Signing and retention bonuses to recruit and retain teachers

• Office support positions and some central office positions

• Skilled labor support  (Technicians and Mechanics)

• Athletic coaching stipends

• Maintenance of school grounds, including mowing grass

• Cleaning and sanitizing of our schools

• Utility costs (heat, air conditioning, and electricity for our schools)

• Fuel for our buses to run their routes

• Insurance for locally owned vehicles and activity buses, facilities, and employees injured on the job

• Translation Services for non-English speaking families

• AIG, CTE and STEM program support funding

What are we asking for in capital outlay (facilities funding) and why?

Capital outlay funds provide for building construction and upkeep, supporting safety and security measures, and addressing recurring expenses related to maintaining school programming.

The 2023-24 Capital Outlay request includes recurring expenses such as vehicle licenses and fees, safety equipment, lighting, technology, athletics and band. The “Recurring Expenses” request totals $1,225,000. “New Projects” benefit almost all schools and include projects such as carpeting, roof repairs, phone system, etc. for a total of $1,775,000.   

Recurring Expenses $1,225,000

New Projects $1,775,000

Total $3,000,000

What is the County Manager’s recommendation for funding our capital outlay request?

The County Manager’s recommendation for capital outlay funding is $1.5 million, or half of the requested amount. These funds are utilized to take care of recurring expenses and new projects to ensure that our schools are safe, inviting and well-maintained. This drastic reduction from the request will limit the improvements we are able to make at our schools.

What do these funds pay for, and what could potentially be impacted by cutting the capital outlay request in half?

• Recurring expenses such as technology, safety equipment, lighting, athletics, and band

• Projects impacting all of our schools. Here are just a few (not all) examples:

  • Carpet for classrooms at Bunn Elementary, Franklinton Elementary, Royal Elementary and Youngsville Elementary

  • New/repaired bleachers for Cedar Creek Middle, Bunn Middle, Bunn High, Franklinton High and Louisburg High

  • Playground equipment at Louisburg Elementary and Franklinton Elementary

  • Track enhancement at Franklinton High and Bunn High

  • An awning at Edward Best Elementary School for the carpool area

  • Safety lighting at the FMS courtyard

  • A districtwide phone system upgrade, intended to replace an unreliable system that is 30 years old

What is the County Manager’s Rationale for Not Fully Funding the District’s Request?

“Insufficient Analysis” 

The County Manager’s Budget Message, shared publicly on Monday May 15, states that it would be “an irresponsible action” to honor our funding request without “sufficient analysis.”   We have met with county leadership on multiple occasions, have met with all commissioners,  and have provided significant detailed information regarding our current expense funding request, rationale, details on expenditures over time, etc. We have provided detailed information regarding capital funding. We have also indicated our willingness on numerous occasions to meet and answer any questions that they may have to help clarify the rationale for our request.

District is Requesting a 15% Increase in One Year

• Although it is true that the funding request is an increase of 15% over last year, in reality we were significantly underfunded last spring for the current school year based upon student growth and this increased request again reflects increased enrollment.

•  We are growing by over 985 students in a two year period of time- a 10% increase in the number of children that the county is responsible for funding with a per pupil allotment.  

• The County Manager has communicated that the county has increased funding to schools each year, which is true, but if you aren’t increasing funding relative to growth in the student population, you are cutting per pupil funding to students.  

• This year, the county reduced the per pupil allocation provided from $2167 per student to $2102 per student, despite inflationary increases.

How does the County Manager’s budget fund Franklin County Government?

The Franklin County Manager’s recommendation for County funding reflects an 18.7% increase over two years- fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Her recommendation for funding Franklin County Schools (and charters) increased 6.9% over the same two years.

What are our next steps with the budget?

So what’s next? The Franklin County Board of Commissioners have to make the final decision on the local funding that our schools will receive. They will be holding a public forum on the budget on Monday June 5, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Franklin Plaza. If you have opinions on the proposed budget,  this is an excellent opportunity for your voice to be heard. 

The County has also created a form for public feedback on the budget. This is another important way to share your thoughts on the proposed budget. Visit https://bit.ly/Budget-Comment-Portal.

In an effort to increase student safety, the Franklin County Board of Education has approved a change in Policy 6305: Safety and Student Transportation Services for the 2023-24 school year.  Currently, drivers will discharge Pre-K through kindergarten students only when a designated secondary student or parent/guardian is present. Effective July 1, 2023,  drivers will discharge Pre-K through third grade students only when an older sibling, parent/guardian/designee is present. We wanted to make you aware of this change well in advance so that families who are impacted by this change will have time to make any necessary arrangements.

Do you want to gain experience working with real businesses this summer? Students at Franklin County Schools are encouraged to register for Franklin Summer Teamship - a program that provides a reimagined internship experience for students. In Teamship, rising 8th-12th grade students from across the district will work in teams to solve real problems for real businesses. If you want to learn more or apply for the program, please click here. https://www.districtc.co/franklin-summer-teamship

 

The Franklin County Health Department is hosting a Back to School Resource Fair at the Health Department on August 16th, 2023, from 4:00 pm-7:00 pm during their school vaccine clinic. The main goal for this event is to reach/educate families in the community about different services offered in Franklin County and to prepare students for going back to school with supplies, paper, book bags, and other necessities to start their year off great.

Here is the link to the vendor application. There is no cost to attend! https://forms.gle/K8SRtNyhCLKirLcM6