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.”