‘Our kids need us’
CMS seeks funding from county to cover safety, academic areas; launches budget website at ourkidsneedus.org
Citing school safety and
equity in education as key issues,
Dr. Clayton Wilcox released his
proposed 2018-2019 budget on
April 10, seeking $39.8 million
in additional funding from
Mecklenburg County as part of a
$1.5 billion operating budget.
“Our budget is statement
of what we value and of our
priorities,” Dr. Wilcox said. “We
value our kids. All of them. This
budget is for our kids, for the
children of this community, who
need and deserve access to
opportunities.”
Dr. Wilcox’s proposed budget
identifies four key areas he wants
to address: safe schools, great
educators, strong support and
positive learning spaces.
“Our kids need us,” he said.
“There has been a clear call for
change from the Opportunity
Task Force and the Leading on
Opportunity Council. There’s a
sense of urgency about increasing access to opportunity for our kids.”
Dr. Wilcox pointed to the economic mobility study that put Charlotte
50th out of 50 cities, as well as the district’s own Breaking the Link report
that highlighted a lack of equity between schools in CMS. All of it has
converged to focus community attention on the need for more equity,
including in schools, he said. The four areas identified in his budget
will improve ch ildren’s educational experiences and increase access to
opportunity.
To promote safe schools, he is asking for $5 million in county funding to
provide additional counselors, social workers and psychologists, as well as
five police officers, two locksmiths, two electronics specialists and training
with local law enforcement. He is also requesting about $9 million in capital
funding (rather than operating) to strengthen security at schools. The
capital money would be spent on hardening doors, adding fencing and locks,
and expanding surveillance.
In the second key area – great educators – he is asking for a seven
percent increase in the county supplement rate to keep the district
competitive in hiring. It would cost an additional $6.9 million and is the first
rate increase since 2012. He is also seeking $11.02 million as the county’s
share of an estimated three percent salary increase for administrative
and non-certified staff, and seven percent for certified staff. To address
the additional funding for enhancement teachers in House Bill 90, which
would pay for arts, physical and health education, and world languages
teachers, he is asking for $784,543. Dr. Wilcox’s budget proposal also
includes $317,314 to cover the county’s portion of staffing costs for one
new elementary school and two repurposed schools opening next year;
$1.5 million for 20 English Learner teachers; and $500,000 for cultural
proficiency training.
“All of this will help us provide the best educators for our kids,” he said.
To provide strong support for students, Dr. Wilcox is seeking $3.8
million from the county for instructional applications, $455,856 for the
Advancement Via Individual Determination program and $300,000 for a
digital platform for guidance counseling.
The fourth area is positive learning spaces. To ensure schools are safe,
well-equipped and clean, Dr. Wilcox is asking for $1.8 million to add 46
custodians districtwide and $605,433 for 11 custodians and three pest
control specialists at the new and repurposed sites.
“This will not only help our students,” he said. “It will also protect the
significant public investment in
school buildings.”
Dr. Wilcox said that his
budget was a call to action for
the whole community. “Our
kids need us,” he said. “Our
community is at a crossroads
today. This budget call to action
is a call to choose the best
path, the one that will help our
kids and strengthen our entire
community.”
CMS launched a budget
information website at
ourkidsneedus.org to open
access to the proposed budget
to the community and create
opportunities for feedback
and questions. “Our kids need
us to share information and
empower the community with
knowledge about the budget and
how it will help support student
achievement. We look forward to
community input, questions and
sharing from this new platform,”
says CMS Chief Communications Officer Tracy Russ.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education will vote on the budget in
May. The county will vote on its budget in June.
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Parent Teacher Magazine • May/June 2018 • 7