Friday Churn: Budget realities

What’s churning:

The Colorado School Finance Project asked school districts for information about changes to budgets over the past three school years, 2009-2010 through 2011-2012.

The results would be predictable to anyone who follows school finance issues in Colorado closely.

Recent revenue projections suggest some improvement in the state’s economic outlook, but the last three years of tightening state budgets have taken their toll on school districts.

Findings included:

1. Over 70 percent of districts have reduced their reserves.
2. Furlough days (reduction of pay and teaching days) have been implemented in 15 percent of districts.
3. Districts have reduced or not increased compensation in 95 percent of districts for one or more years.
4. The number of districts moving to a four-day week has increased 15 percent in the past 10 years.
5. Over 85 percent of districts have increased class size, combined grades or eliminated programs in the past 3 years.
6. Staff reductions have included retirement, non-renewals, program reductions, increased class size and combined grades (no specific percentage breakdown available.)

In case you missed it:

Three finalists for executive director of the state Charter School Institute have been named by the institute board. They are:

Stephen Dalla Betta, CEO and board member of Venture Prep, a 6-12 Denver charter school in Park Hill. Betta, a former Level 3 executive, has been with Venture Prep since 2008.

John Brendza, headmaster of Stone Creek Charter School in Avon since 2009. Brendza previously was superintendent of the Eagle County Schools and is a former teacher.

Ethan Hemming, institute deputy executive director and former deputy executive director of the DPS Office of School Reform and Innovation.

CSI board Chair Wayne Eckerling said the full board will interview finalists on Jan. 17 and make a decision at a special meeting on Feb. 7.

The institute is the authorizer for 22 charter schools that serve some 10,500 students.

What’s on tap:

The University of Northern Colorado Board of Trustees meets at 8:30 a.m. today in the Panorama Room of the University Center, intersection of 10th Avenue and 20th Street.

Trustees will take action on revisions to the board policy manual including redefining a senate quorum as a majority of voting members, applying a consistent definition for general provisions of working days for counting the time period, and updating language for sabbatical leave. The revisions have been approved by the Faculty Senate. The remaining board meetings for the 2011-12 academic year are scheduled for March 9 and June 8.

Good reads from elsewhere:

San Luis Valley superintendents were pleased to learn that the Boettcher Teachers Program is interested in bringing quality teachers to rural school districts, the Valley Courier reports.

The first of several school board meetings in Garfield School District Re-2 drew standing-room-only crowds, the Glenwood Springs Post-Independent reports, including teachers, students, parents and community members. The district faces a deficit of $1.5 to $2 million; one elementary school in Rifle and one elementary school in New Castle are on the chopping block.

The EdNews’ Churn is a daily roundup of briefs, notes and meetings in the world of Colorado education. To submit an item for consideration in this listing, please email us at EdNews@EdNewsColorado.org