I am thrilled that the governors proposed budget will allow us to include two additional student days and eliminate furlough days.
Due to the economic recession in Georgia, the state reduced school system funding in 2003. Slowly but surely, as the state's economy has rebounded, such austerity reductions have decreased.
Next school year, Catoosa County Schools will be at the point where there are no furlough days. This year there were two. A furlough day reduces the system's budget by taking days or specific employees temporarily off the payroll.
"In the fiscal year 2017 proposed budget, Governor Deal has appropriated funding to reduce the amount of the austerity reduction," said Catoosa County Schools Superintendent Denia Reese. "Catoosa County public schools will use this revenue to restore two instructional days for students, which will eliminate all furlough days. To maintain financial stability with the austerity reductions, we had to reduce instructional days and furlough employees five days in fiscal year 2010. As funding has been restored we have added instructional days and reduced furlough days.
"We are very excited about the new revenues. The legislative session indicates that the funding will enable us to eliminate all furlough days."
The school system's budget for next year calls for $89,383,565 in revenues vs. $93,658,636 in expenditures from the general fund, compared to this year's $87,334,769 in revenues and $91,980,594 in expenditures. There is an additional $964,415 earmarked for instruction next year compared to this year.
The recently approved calendar for next school year features 175 days of student instruction.
"We build in inclement weather days," said Reese. "We all appreciate the inclement weather days because the instructional days are so integral in the spring. Even though we have snow days, we don't miss so much instruction."
The calendar for the 2016/17 school year is as follows:
Aug. 6-12: In-service (teachers only)
Aug. 15: First day of school
Sept. 5: No school
Oct. 10-11: Fall break
Nov. 21-25: Thanksgiving break
Dec. 23-Jan. 4: Holiday break
Jan. 5-6: In-service (teachers only)
Jan. 16: No school
Feb. 17 and 20: Winter break
March 10: In-service (teachers only)
April 3-7: Spring break
April 14: No school
May 29: No school
May 30-31: In-service (teachers only)
For the full calendar and more news, visit catoosa.k12.ga.us.