‘Entire community’ will feel the impact of NA-FC School Corp. cuts

Officials to announce plans Thursday

By CHRIS MORRIS
Chris.Morris@newsandtribune.com

Wendy Moody hopes no news is good news.

The Galena Elementary School PTO president gave a list of reasons Monday night to the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidate School Corp. Board of Trustees why Galena should not be closed due to budget cuts. She referenced the 10 years the school has been named a Four-Star School and the quality of education given to the students at Galena.

“There are just so many rumors and speculation going around,” Moody said.. “I try not to take it to heart.”

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School closings likely in New Albany-Floyd Co.

The New Albany-Floyd County school corporation is finishing a plan to cut $6.6 million from its budget.

A big cut in state funding means closings are likely.

The superintendent's decision is due next week.

Read transcript here

Fox41 Coverage

Letter to all concerned

Hello Friends of Silver Street Elementary,

There was an article in today's Courier Journal announcing possible school closures due to budget cuts of $6.6 million! The New Albany-Floyd County School Corporation will be holding a press conference on March 4th, with a public hearing to be held at the March 8th school board meeting at the Administration Building on Grant Line road at 7 pm. The board will vote on the decisions on Thursday, March 11th!

At the press conference, the corporation will announce what budget cuts are planned to make up their $6.6 million budget shortfall. We are expecting an announcement that one or more schools will be closed!

We want to remind everyone that closing schools is probably only a portion of the options they may consider. There's also the potential of moving all 5th graders to the middle schools, and cutting multiple programs, just to name a few. The decisions may not be just one issue, but many that would have far reaching impacts on our children and community!

Our new superintendent, Dr. Bruce Hibbard, has prior experience with budget cuts, school closures and acting swiftly. This March 4th press conference was announced shortly after the February 19th deadline to file for school board election candidacy and only leaves about 4 and a half days to get the word out to the public before a vote will be made by the school board!
We urge everyone to talk to your friends, family and neighbors and ask them to attend the March 8th school board meeting, even if you don't plan to comment, as numbers speak volumes. Again, these decisions will have huge impacts on our children's education and the future of our neighborhoods and community.

We have some Save Silver Street t-shirts available in a variety of adult and youth sizes. If you are planning to attend the school board meeting March 8th and would like one of the t-shirts, please respond to this email and let us know your desired size. We will be giving them away, but accepting donations that will be passed on to the school, on a first come first serve basis until they are gone.

Finally, remember that the School Board Primary Election is this May. Make sure you are registered to vote!

We hope to see you March 8th!

School Board Briefs - 02/22/10

Mrs. Wendy Moody, Galena Elementary parent and PTO President, addressed the Board regarding rumors circulating in the community about closing Galena Elementary and moving 5th graders to the middle schools. Mr. Whaley said Thursday, March 4th will be the public announcement, on Monday, March 8th at 7:00 p.m. the School Board will conduct an open forum for anyone who wishes to address the Board, and the matter will come before the Board for a vote at a meeting on Thursday, March 11th at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Hibbard said that he plans to meet with the PTO Presidents prior to March 8th.

click here for full brief

New Albany-Floyd County schools need to cut $6.6 million

By TARA HETTINGER, New Albany Tribune
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com

In the superintendent's office, New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. administrators gathered to discuss what Deputy Superintendent Brad Snyder says is his worst nightmare that has come true.

The state's financial predictions involving how much income would be attained through increased sales tax were high and now NA-FC has to cut $6.6 million in the general fund, which pays mostly for salaries, this year to balance revenues with expenditures.

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Review the Indiana State Board of Education Citizens' Checklist to see if all possible cuts have been made before further action is taken.

School closings expected in Floyd budget cuts

BY HAROLD J. ADAMS • HJADAMS@COURIER-JOURNAL.COM • FEBRUARY 24, 2010

New Albany Floyd County school leaders will announce a plan next week to plug a $6.6 million budget gap, and it’s likely to call for some school closings, a top administrator said Wednesday.

The school district has scheduled a news conference for next Thursday to announce the cuts to its $75 million budget, Deputy Superintendent Brad Snyder said.

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CLERE: Saving teachers would protect students

By ED CLERE
Local Columnist

The topics of conversation were as diverse as the crowd at a second informal forum on education.

It's an important and timely subject. With the legislature likely to adjourn by the end of next week, we have precious little time left to take action to prevent teacher layoffs and larger class sizes.

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Layoffs loom for teachers: education secretary

By Lisa Lambert

updated 8:02 p.m. ET, Sun., Feb. 21, 2010WASHINGTON - Many teachers and educators across the United States are at risk of losing their jobs in the next few months, the nation's education secretary told a meeting of theNational Governors Association on Sunday.

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President urges states to raise school standards

Obama: America's 'primacy in the world' at stake in education reform

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama prodded states Monday to raise their school standards by using his best leverage: money.

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Conversation on Education with State Rep. Ed Clere

Join Destinations Booksellers as they host Ed Clere for a discussion on current education legislation.

Host:	Destinations Booksellers

Date:	Saturday, February 20, 2010
Time:	9:00am - 11:00am
Location:	Destinations Booksellers

Schools face cash crunch as stimulus runs out

'These cuts hurt some of our poorest and neediest kids’
Associated Press
February 14, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO - The nation's public schools are falling under severe financial stress as states slash education spending and drain federal stimulus money that staved off deep classroom cuts and widespread job losses.

School districts have already suffered big budget cuts since the recession began two years ago, but experts say the cash crunch will get a lot worse as states run out of stimulus dollars.

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Having a heart for education

Wise Hearts dinner to raise money for local school corporations

By TARA HETTINGER
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com

With many schools corporations already struggling financially prior to the state announcing further cuts in funding, one local school board member decided to do something about it. click here for the rest of the story

Governor talks persistent recession in Jeffersonville

Daniels talks economics with One Southern Indiana at luncheon

By DAVID A. MANN
David.Mann@newsandtribune.com

State reserve funds are being spent, hiring has been frozen and spending cuts — including to education — are among ways the state is staving off the effects of the continuing recession, according to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. click here to read the rest of the story

Indiana rolls out new plan to track students’ growth

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Education will track each student’s academic growth instead of focusing on standardized tests to measure their progress and that of their schools, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said Wednesday.
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CLERE: Let's talk about education

By ED CLERE
Local Columnist

What's best for kids?

That's the first and most important question we should be asking as we debate education issues. Some, however, want to start with what's best for adults, trying to convince us that benefits for children will follow.

Of all the weighty issues before the Indiana General Assembly, education should be the furthest removed from politics. Instead, it's among the most political.

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Indiana Board Of Education Issues Recommendations On School Funding Cuts

by Troy Kehoe

story created 12/17/09

INDIANAPOLIS — Debate from Hoosier educators hit high gear Thursday, after a recommendation from the Indiana State Board of Education that deep cuts be made in schools across the state.

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There are some interesting reader comments below article.

Indiana slashes education funding in middle of school year

Thursday, December 31, 2009
By: Corey Ansel

Bail out public education now!

As government officials, economists and newscasters proclaim that the economic crisis is coming to a close or it is over, funding for public education is under growing attack across the country. In Indiana, the state is cutting funding for kindergarten through 12th grade by an extra 3 percent, or almost $300 million. click here for the rest of the article

Legislative Funding Formula for Indiana Public Schools

video 1

video 2

video 3

If billions are being allocated to education, why are we having to cut over $6 million?

She says 2009-2011 budgets saw increases - NAFC made millions in cuts. The first video also mentions how suburban schools tend to receive more than inner-city schools.