Budget Discussion
Posted by
Dr. Lyle C. Ailshie
in
General
|
Comments (15)
As the school system undertakes its budget development process for the 2010 - 2011 school year, difficult decisions will have to be made. We are interested in hearing from employees regarding any cost-saving ideas they may have. If you have any serious, well thought out, ideas that you believe may be worth considering, please provide those to us here. We ask that you do not use people's names or personal references in order to protect those identities. You are also required to put your name at the end of your post.
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Comments on "Budget Discussion"
3/31/2010 10:50:07 AM
The retirement incentive is designed to ultimately save money. Replacing retiring employees who have reached their maximum pay scale and hiring entry level or less experienced teachers/administrators will obviosuly save on salaries. However, the same logic should be used when hiring for other or newly created positions as well, whether full or part time positions.
Also, I like the idea already presented where students would be required to take notes/tests, etc. from the board, overhead, or Elmo. This would save a great deal on paper copies. However, it could be seen as a step backward.
Require tests (as feasible) to be taken on line--would also save on paper.
Quit mailing grade reports--this must use a tremendous amount of postage.
3/1/2010 8:52:33 AM
I agree with the comments made about partnering with businesses and or goverment to look at long term energy costs. Perhaps we could look into getting solar panels from government grants, if we feel like solar panels are efficient ways to save energy. I know they are very expensive, but ultimately they pay for themselves in a few years. Perhaps this could be looked into. Other school systems, such as Kingsport, have had similar long term energy cost saving plans implicated, although their plan was based around new windows and doors in their schools.
2/17/2010 9:14:42 AM
To save on copy machine fees and paper...have students copy work from the board...not only would this save money, the students might improve their horrible handwriting! Copying work can also reinforce what students are learning.
2/17/2010 5:49:00 AM
How about turning off all computers when not in use. Currently, we must leave them on all the time, even if we don't use them for a few days. I understand updates and scans must be done, but this must use a lot of electricity. Laptops are not left on all the time, but desktops are.
2/16/2010 12:21:36 PM
Aggressively partner with the business community in searching out new businesses to move into the area. There are many states with higher tax rates than ours and there are businesses in these states which need to be courted and introduced to the advantages we offer. We need to save. We also need to grow our economy to broaden the tax base. This is a long-term suggestion. We must continue to keep it in mind.
2/16/2010 9:51:16 AM
How about a four day work week...add a couple of hours on to each day and cut the heat way down on Friday? Most of us stay later every day anyway.
2/16/2010 9:17:18 AM
My suggestion to help with power consumption cost is the purchase of motion/occupancy sensors installed in every school. These sensors are wired into the overhead fluorescent light junction boxes or a different type of infrared sensor is mounted to the ceiling. Industry has been using this technology for years to help with cutting cost. These sensors would be most useful in places that are unoccupied many times throughout the day, when student flow is less during class times, such as stairwells, halls, open areas, storage areas, and bathrooms. These sensors have timers on them ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. The sensor turns the lights off after the delay on the timer is reached without motion. When someone walks in the bathroom or down a hall that the lights are not on, then the sensor will turn the lights on. No one would have to turn the lights off in the schools if all lights were hooked to these sensors. The sensor would turn them off once the delay is reached. The initial cost would be the only problem, but I could get a quote along with others that have supply companies to get a better deal. Wal-Mart distribution has these installed and Northeast State Technical Community College as well.
2/15/2010 7:38:47 PM
Limit all travel for meetings and professional development for one year. Hotel room, parking, mileage, and meal reimbursements have to add up to thousands of dollars.
2/15/2010 5:07:36 PM
Cut back on some of the field trips.Turn off classroom light when not in use. Getting better trash can liners that don't rip in the middle and have to through away.Change maintenance hrs from 9hrs to 8 hrs per day.
2/15/2010 12:48:14 PM
The following ideas seem minuscule when compared to the major budget decrease, but, like with the waste disposal idea, small things can add up.
· Limit copy paper use- With LCD projectors, it is easy to avoid making copies for entire classes.
· Teacher depot-Get more community support for this while possibly limiting BEP money for supplies.
· Webinars for professional development- With our virtual capabilities, this could save lots of money on PD days.
· Explore online textbooks
· No transportation on ½ days, investigate rules on team travel to closely located opponents
· Limit school purchased ink for each teacher
· Have custodians adjust thermostats before leaving each room in the evening
2/14/2010 8:47:51 AM
One of our major custodial costs is can liners. So cutting down on the amount of waste and then distributing the waste more efficiently would cut down on the cost of having to replace each liner every day. For instance, there's no reason why every school in the city school system can't be connected to Keep Greene Clean's city recycling program. That cuts down paper waste and gets the students involved with recycling at a young age. Then, have a separate receptacles for food waste so those are the liners that must be changed daily. It would just take a little more awareness and would cut costs drastically. Little changes can go a long way.
Also, having specific bus stops would cut down the routes and save gas money.
2/13/2010 8:25:29 PM
1. Cut down on student transportation - especially athletics when opponent team is in or near Greene County.
2. Less professional travel.
3. Get rid of teachers' 3rd personal day.
2/12/2010 8:37:50 AM
Don't purchase new textbooks or limit to a class set. Raise the school fees to cover some of the cost of paper. Let the money schools raise having dances go to things other than fieldtrips. charge more at athletic events...just ideas...probably already considered....
2/12/2010 7:38:12 AM
One way to cut costs would be to have all employees that drive a school system owned vehicle, to leave them parked at the bus garage in the afternoons and pick them back up every morning when they return to work. If these employees are in fact "on call", the bus garage is centrally located, therefore it would not be a long drive to go get their "work" vehicle then go to the appropriate school for the "emergency". 7 vehicles being taken home every night has to increase our fuel bill somewhat (every penny counts) not to even mention the risks involved with having these vehicles at their homes.
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