School task force convenes
BY PAM BRANNON Gulf Breeze News news@gulfbreezenews.com

Gray

There are 18 new pair of eyes taking a close look at the options available to Santa Rosa County School District for cutting expenses in the future. District Superintendent John Rogers has appointed an Educational Budget Task Force of 18 individuals from the community, as well as educators from within the school districtwhich met for the first time last week Members include Rhonda Chavers, Doug Dillon, Ed Gray, III, Bill Emerson, Jennifer Granse, David Gunter, Lisa Gupta, Clifton Hinote, Jean Hughes, John Rogers, Randy Samson, Janie Seal, Pam Smith, Guy Thompson, Ian Turoff and Vicki Yelder.

Rogers told the committee that their task is to help identify and recommend to the school board ways to save money.

Rogers said he chose the members of the task force personally from people he believes have leadership abilities, and some principals and teachers who he said can see the problems close up with funding cutbacks. He also pointed out that some members on the Task Force volunteered to serve, and the school board members are also invited to join the Task Force. Three of the five school board members were at the first meeting. They are to brainstorm and talk to people within the community and schools and meet again March 19.

Rogers

The task force heard presentations from both Rogers and Asst. Superintendent of Finance Doug Dillon last week. Dillon explained that they didn't get much notice last Fall when the state wanted money back, to be deducted from this year's school budget.

Rogers said, "Now, since the state recently discovered they are still in trouble, they have now demanded that we send another $2 million between now and June 1. So we are really looking at our budget close now from now to the end of the year, and we will have to make some serious recommendations to the school board about that."

Dillon and Rogers explained the budget issues the district faces. "One pay day for our school district is $11.5 million," Rogers said. "That is one pay day for everyone who works for the school system. We have to always keep that in mind when we start cutting into our fund balance."

Rogers said things will be a lot different next school year than it has been for several past years.

Dillon said the school district does a lot of contracting for services, from food service to custodial services to bus transportation. "Just in transportation and custodial services we spend $16.3 million a year," Dillon said.

Rogers said the school district now transports 16,500 to 17,000 students a day by bus.

Dillon told the task force one big problem for the district is unfunded but mandated services the state requires the school districts to provide.