oe e 3 5 & § aw) RED CLAY CONSOLIDATED ‘SCHOOL DISTRICT Mervin 8. Daugherty, £40. "Sioemmendent Wimingier: Dataware 1805 Offceof the Superrond fortes (soe 2.3702 Fax (902) 982-780 April 30, 2018 To: Red Clay Parents/Guardians Re: School Funding - State Level Itis hard to believe that Spring has finally arrived and we are only six weeks away from the end of the 2017-2018 school year. Throughout this year, there has been a great deal of discussion concerning school funding and the reductions of state education funding by the Governor and the General Assembly. The constant reductions to education funding throughout the state have and will continue to cause school districts to reduce staffing, supports and services. We have been very fortunate to this point in Red Clay, through careful planning and budget restraint, to support our classrooms and schools with the needed services to provide strong academic environments ‘The real concern for Red Clay during the last year is that we lost $3 million in state reductions to our education allocation and over $9 million in needed programs over the last eight years, The state reductions have come in the most critical areas; stich as safety and security, extra time program for our students, Reading and Math teachers, funding for our English Language Learners and funding to offset local tax increases. ‘These cuts, along with declining tax assessments in New Castle County, force school districts to reexamine their budgets and schedule additional referendums in order to ensure critical services for our students are provided. I have enclosed a copy of the state reductions that have occurred over the last eight years. While I will continue to represent your children and advocate for the best interests of our students in Dover, it is important we broaden this conversation to all stakeholders and together, have critical dialogue with our state officials about our concerns regarding budget cuts in education and the very real needs to support our students. 1 need your help. The State PTA will be holding a rally at Legislative Hall in Dover on May 9th at 1:30pm to encourage legislators to support public education, With the current increase in the state revenue estimates and an improved economic forecast, I believe the state allocation for education should be restored to the school districts. We are also advocating for HB12 to increase funding for K-3 students that will reduce class size and assist with our special education students in their earliest years in school. | ask for your support to contact your local legistator and ask them to support funding for schools in Delaware. It is time for the state legislators who live in Red Clay to support public education with their votes and restore funding for education. Your voice counts, Werkng Sages fo ou te. Wren | nS om Mervin B. Daugherty, Ed, Superintendent Sen Se ee ues soa be dete 40 Dera Duvenpt, Human Rewoucs, t 23585983History of FY08-18 State Funding Reduction in Edvation- Districts 2008 Reductions Program ‘Amount [Reading Resource Teachers 3545 500 [Matn Specaists $3,071,700 Lirites English Proficiency Grant $1,625,000 [fectroogy Boxe | ra] Schoot-based Discipline Program $8213,900| [Tax Retet Alccaton 317549500 Jacedemic Excelence Allotment [Erato Programe [TutionReimoursement [Teacher Cadre & Mentorng, Total $58,197,600] *in adcition to specie program reductions in 2008, districts absorbed adcitional operational cuts instate funding incuaing: 10%%transportation cost shift, 10% in Divison Al Other Costs, 8% Reduction in Division II Energy and 39% reduction in Professional Development, FY19 State restored portion of 2008 cus in flexible block grant Ed Sustainment $28,150,800 FY 1A State Funding increased for technology State Technology Block Grant $2,250,000 FY18 Recuetons [State Budget Reductions $26 000,000 REDUCTIONS - not including 5 ‘operational reductions in Dison * and $554,096.70 ‘ransgonaton “** Reduction of Transportation Funding is an additional $8,000,000 to the Total State Funding for public