Districts will consider several options to make up for the shortage in funds—including staff cuts, payroll freezes, program cuts, furlough days, and more.
Public school districts across Colorado face the possibility of students not returning to physical classes until January 2021, having been instructed by the governor to formulate plans to address multiple possibilities—including returning as normal, returning to online classes, or some sort of hybrid situation. Along with developing these plans, many school districts in Colorado are facing some dire financial situations.
The coronavirus pandemic has shut down in-person learning for the rest of the current school year and will make its mark well into years to come, and part of that involves lack of funding. The state is expecting up to 10 percent less for education than was recommended by the governor last year—up to $3 billion less than what was expected.
Denver Public Schools (DPS) discussed its financial situation at a virtual board meeting about two weeks ago and was clear they are facing a "dire financial situation." The district predicts it may lose anywhere from $19 to $61 million in funds expected from the state, a shortfall that will affect how the district can operate next year. At the April 17 meeting, the district proposed several ways they will possibly address the shortfalls in funding:
- Freezing yearly teacher pay increases
- Merging smaller schools
- Furlough days
- Not filling support positions
- Staff pay decreases
- Asking local voters for more money
- Changing schedules to make transportation less costly
- Cut good rating bonuses, use budget reserves
- Possibly cutting departments by one percent, district-wide
Jeffco Public Schools has announced that it's also facing economic hardship and uncertainty, and is planning for a possible deficiency of five percent, or about $34 million, though that could go as high as $70 million. This will affect all schools, including charters, and the district will face cuts and hard decisions moving forward.
Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Jason Glass said the district will look at the following possibilities:
- Reserve emergency spending
- District program cuts and reductions
- Freezing salaries (including steps/lanes)
- Furlough days
- Pay reductions
- School closures/consolidations
- Layoffs
- Large-scale structural changes
- Jeffco Public Schools is currently hiring only for essential positions and is working to reserve current spending in all areas
Other districts have also recently discussed the funding issues; Douglas County School District has said they will be facing major cuts during a virtual town hall last week, including cuts to athletics, band, clubs, and other extracurricular programs. Superintendent Thomas Tucker said he was unable to promise that anything would be off the table in regard to cuts due to the budget shortfall.
Poudre School District (PSD) also said last week in an email to the school community that it faces extreme budget shortfalls due to the coronavirus pandemic. The email from PSD superintendent Sandra Smyser informed families that the district would face difficult choices, and was considering several options to address the budget shortfalls. Smyser expects a five percent reduction, anywhere from $2 to $28 million for next year. She expects to have to reduce employees districtwide, as well as consider emergency reserves, school and district level cuts and reductions to staff, cuts in operating budgets, and furlough days, among other measures.
All school districts across the state will face funding issues as the state financial shortfall affects everyone and districts are having to make swift decisions on information that keeps evolving. There are some options for federal funding to help fill in the gaps; however, there is no guarantee of those funds.
Despite this uncertain future, districts and educators across the state continue to work for students. Teachers and support staff are holding classes form home, recording video lectures, and holding virtual meetings and tutoring sessions. Some districts are also feeding their students and their families. Aurora Public Schools, for example, has been providing free meals for families for several weeks now.
This is tough news to hear, for both students and educators, many of whom also have school-aged children. There will be pain associated with these budget cuts, and it will all affect the quality of educational experience for students, and career and job stability for educators and support staff. While there is no choice but to sit and wait to see what the future holds, it's becoming quite clear that education and the classroom experience will feel long term effects from the coronavirus pandemic, regardless of when or if students and teachers in the state get to return to a traditional class setting.
How do you feel about this news? What do you think can be done to address the budget shortfalls and hard decisions school districts now face? We want to hear from you, so sound off in the comments below.
