by David Chapman
Staff Writer
As State Sen. John Thrasher put it, Thursday was a day for members of the Duval Delegation to listen to members on the front line of local education issues.
Thrasher, along with numerous delegation members and legislative assistants, met with Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals, DCPS officials and Duval County School Board members for a half-day session to discuss the problems ailing local education along with a discussion on potential solutions.
The session was a lengthier follow-up to the delegation’s November organizational meeting, where Pratt-Dannals was among 80 members of the public who presented delegation members with points for the upcoming legislative session.
Unfunded and underfunded mandates, which Pratt-Dannals spoke about in November, were focal points during Thursday’s session.
Pratt-Dannals presented a three-part list of 26 such requirements that, if repealed, would save the school system more than $185 million.
The greatest savings presented included measures relating to class sizes, going to a schoolwide average instead of by individual classes ($24 million), the district’s requirement to adhere to stipulations within the differentiated accountability model for interventions under No Child Left Behind ($20 million) and transportation ($12 million).
Preliminary budget information showed an anticipated $92 million shortfall for Duval County Public Schools for the 2011-12 fiscal year. That included anticipated fixed-cost increases of $33 million and estimated revenue reductions of $59 million.
Official numbers will come next week during legislative committee meetings, but the shortfall should be between $80 million and $120 million because the burden will be heavier with no more federal stimulus dollars to supplement state budgets.
“The bottom line is it’s pretty bad,” said Mike Perrone, Duval County Public Schools budget director.
The local education officials also discussed provisions for the second round of Senate Bill 6 talks. The original teacher tenure and merit-pay bill was approved by the Legislature last session before being vetoed by then-Gov. Charlie Crist, with critics citing a lack of input from affected parties.
But local provisions provided by educational officials for the coming second rendition of the bill, called “Race To The Top for Student Success” by state Sen. Steve Wise, included recommendations on general funding, measurement of learning gains, appraisal procedures and teacher contracts, among other items.
The report said that funds allocated for performance and differentiated pay must be above the total funds per student from the previous year and legislation must fund sustainable performance and differentiated pay.
“It’s got to be an add-on and it’s got to be funded,” said Vicki Reynolds, Duval County Public Schools chief human resources officer, who presented the recommendations.
In addition, Reynolds presented recommendations that legislative members not completely eliminate seniority or educational degrees as part of the compensation formula.
As for the results of the three-hour meeting, both Duval Delegation members and local education officials believed it was worthwhile.
“I’m very proud of the dialogue that took place,” said Thrasher. “We (Duval Delegation members) came here to listen and we heard of a lot of the issues ... it was a great start.”
Pratt-Dannals said the meeting accomplished its purpose and was an opportunity to present ideas, especially the list of mandates on the district, as the groups continue to communicate.
Recently elected school board member Paula Wright, District 4, said the meeting was an opportunity to express ideas and also gain perspective from a legislative angle.
“You get a sense of willingness,” said Wright. “We all have to find a way to get a handle on the problems (within the local education system).”
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