The Oak Ridge Board of Education and school administrators are pictured above during a meeting earlier this year. (File photo)
Note: This story was updated at 12:15 p.m.
Oak Ridge school officials made it clear last week that they’re not in favor of budget cuts, and at least a few suggested they might support a property tax rate increase to prevent reductions in staff and programs.
Earlier this month, the Oak Ridge Board of Education was presented three different budget options to start the annual fiscal discussions. One is known as the “Losing Students, Families, and Staff” budget; the second is known as the “Retaining Students, Families, and Staff” budget; and the third is known as “Attracting Students, Families, and Staff.”
The presentations outline a range of potential cuts including reducing nursing jobs and teaching positions; eliminating the Family Resource Center, elementary strings program, and preschool transportation; and increasing class sizes and stretching the student walk zone to one mile. They also include a range of potential benefits, including starting a digital technology initiative known as 1:1, hiring technology personnel, adding special education and custodial staff, and giving employees a 2 percent pay raise.
School officials suggested they’re not considering the cuts unless they’re unable to get more revenue from city officials.
“I’m not recommending those cuts at this time,” Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said during a special school board meeting on Wednesday. “All of these have consequences.”
Although they didn’t vote, the school board generally seemed to endorse the middle-of-the-road option, the “Retaining Students, Families, and Staff” budget. That is the budget that Borchers said he would recommend, at a minimum. It could require a $0.42 property tax to avoid cuts. That would translate into another $8.74 per month for the owner of a $100,000 home and an extra $17.48 each month for someone who owns a $200,000 home.
“I believe that the retain budget is, at a minimum, what this community needs,” Borchers said. “I think we need to invest in our schools.”
Based on feedback from the Wednesday meeting, school administrators are expected to present a budget to the school board during a 5:30 p.m. meeting today at the School Administration Building on New York Avenue.
Board members offered a range of suggestions that could be used to shape the budget expected to be presented tonight. It appeared that a majority of the board, if not all of them, oppose cuts.
“I do not favor any decrease in programs,” Vice Chair Bob Eby said.
“The cuts are getting deep now,” said board member Angi Agle, who said education officials have been cutting for years and years.
Board member Jenny Richter appeared to have the most concerns, saying, among other things, that she opposes staff cuts, doesn’t support reductions in such positions as secretaries and nurses, doesn’t support increasing the size of the student walk zone without a study and more input, and hasn’t endorsed the proposed technology portion of the budget presentation. She said school nurses are helpful and the fourth-grade strings program is valuable, and she can’t support the addition of 13 technology positions, although she agrees that technology can enhance education.
Board member Dan DiGregorio said he doesn’t want to reduce staff either and does not want to offer pay raises if jobs are cut.
Board member Angi Agle said she prefers the “Attracting Students, Families, and Staff” budget, but that budget could require another $5 million or a $0.57 tax rate increase to avoid cuts.
“The realist in me says that is not going to happen,” Agle said.
Eby said some parts of the technology initiatives could be implemented slower than anticipated in order to reduce costs. As an example, he made a motion to reduce by 50 percent the cost of replacing projectors.
There was brief discussion over the likelihood of any tax rate increase this election year. More than half the seats on the five-member school board and seven-member City Council are up for election this year. In the meantime, city officials have been working toward a budget with no rate hike.
DiGregorio said there hasn’t been a tax increase since 2009, and “we’re way overdue for a property tax increase.”
“I’m not going to let the fact that I’m running dictate what I think is best for the Oak Ridge school system,” Eby said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Jeanne Hicks Powers says
No tax increase or the minimal with addressing the excessive administrative costs is the way to go. OR needs to bring in an increased business tax base and stop asking its current citizens to pay more. Obviously the educational system is NOT doing this and shouldn’t be expected to do so.
bill bradley says
Ms. Powers, may I ask two questions: Our national economy rolls along with barely a pulse. Do you have a suggestion on how to attract more business to OR? I don’t. I honestly would like to hear yours. I would love to not pay any more taxes! And secondly, this “excessive admin costs” – can you explain that please? I’m not trying to be combative…I think any and ALL ideas should be expressed in these economic times. Thanks
Jeanne Hicks Powers says
Many ideas come to mind, but I’ll only list a few, Mr. Bradley. Clean up the dilapidated buildings and homes to start. Lower the tax rate, not raise it to attract more families and businesses. Get the crime rate i.e. especially drug crime way down. Encourage cultural events that attract young people. The Secret City festival appeals mostly to older people. Develop the lakefront. Even a nice coffee shop there would be wonderful. OR doesn’t need all the administrators they employ. For example the principal that was removed from Robertsville, given a desk job, and keeps getting the same salary is an “excessive administrative cost”. OR has the current levels of finical support to spend wisely. As in a personal budget, if you don’t have it, don’t spend it!
I welcome debate and would like to know your opinions too.
bill bradley says
Good morning: Thx for your response. I’m not sure where the money would come from to clean up the older buildings, but yes, they are an eyesore. The majority of those homes were originally built to last only a few years, so a large portion of OR housing (especially middle and the east end) have far outlived their original plan. I’m betting that’s why the rent is fairly cheap.
I agree, lowering crime rates is a priority. I have to say that taking our speeding / red light enforcement cameras down only burdened our police force even more. And cost us $500,000, though I’d like to have seen us negotiate a better share of the monies. Some of our council people caved in to the highly illogical rantings of a few citizens instead of studying how we could improve the process. I am continued to be amazed that some citizens claimed “oh, they’ll be looking in our cars and investigating us” with those cameras, all the while claiming that we need more technology in schools! And, of course, those cameras certainly freed up cops to try to handle the crime on their very own streets!! Cameras don’t stop people from moving here, they enhance the idea that we are more security conscious!
I’d like to see us use the softball and baseball fields more effectively, as weekend tournaments bring more money into the community. But for some reason, I don’t think the city rec dept makes that very easy for tourney organizers…likely an insurance concern. How many of those fields sit empty all summer?
I agree about the Secret City … what events attract young people? I’m no longer considered young!
Lakefront development .. absolutely. It’s rare you see a boat out there. Frequently that involves alcohol and Lord knows we can’t have that! I thought the China Palace was kicked out because there were new restaurants that were interested in coming in…at least according to Tom Hayes at the time (former councilman). But I haven’t seen any movement on that. And restaurants …well, Oak Ridgers have ALWAYS gone to Knoxville to eat…it’s been a way of life since the 60’s. If Knoxville can have speed boat races near Calhoun’s, how about us?
I was under the impression that the Robertsville principal moved to Central Office had left the system, but I may be incorrect. That’s one person. And if you look at all the new requirements from the state and federal gov’t for educators, can you really claim that the schools are funded adequately? I can’t. Just the technology requirements are huge. Personally, I think the schools could do a much better job promoting themselves. Some people claim the schools aren’t as good as they once were, yet we’ve had a rash of great examples of achievements by this year’s group of students and teachers. Perhaps OR’s most famous graduate these days is Charley Ergan, the inventor / owner of Dish Network. Perhaps someone ought to approach him regarding his assistance in promoting O.R.
Lastly, and I admit my own bias here, I’m tired of certain council members putting out what I perceive to be incorrect or purposely misleading information. I hope that the system responds soon and forcefully. I don’t mind anyone questioning anything, but it can be done in a more professional and truthful manner.
Have a great day.
Jeanne Hicks Powers says
Good morning ! I’m not sure what you mean by the system responding “soon and forcefully”, Mr, Bradley. It’s always good to hear opposing and similar viewpoints.
I hope the city council will be as prudent with their budget decision concerning the school system as Knox County just was.
The cheap rents in the city help house people of course but they certainly don’t help fund the system much. The dilapidated buildings should have the building codes enforced before they cave in/become condemned as recently happened.
I, for one, am glad the cameras are gone. The police force needs to prioritize their efforts for the greatest outcome and I’m sure that is already their plan.
The OR schools are not what they were before. In the 10 years I’ve lived here, they have declined even with the HS renovation and the system being well funded. I am glad that only 1 out of 3 of my children went to school here and I’m happy to say that it was only for 3 years.
I’m not all that “young” either but I am “young at heart”. I like a lot of the things that my own kids do and I can guarantee you that an Eddie Money concert is not even on the list! What do young people like?….. Just visit Market Square and downtown Knoxville and see for yourself. There’s so much energy and interesting things going on there. It does not necessarily mean changing your viewpoints on alcohol either if that would be a concern of yours.
We try to enjoy the activities there whenever we can. Wouldn’t it be something if people stayed in OR to eat at great restaurants i.e. not Applebees if only they were here? Just because “its always been that way” doesn’t mean it needs to remain that way.
Have a great day!
bill bradley says
Good morning. I’m not sure how you come to the belief that the schools are not what they used to be, since you’ve only lived here 10 years. That’s a slap in the face of every teacher in the system. I will combine two stories here: Your comments re: the Vegas trip are based on the misinformation posted by raj. He’s done you a disservice. Do you HONESTLY think that they are all jumping up and down to go? They’ve just finished a long hard school year and with one day of rest, they’re going to a 2 1/2 day convention in Vegas. These are dedicated educators who fly out Sunday and return Wed. night. Honestly, how much fun do you think they can cram into that? Once again, Raj has done his Trina Baughn imitation and given you half truths and insinuations. He says we need more transparency…I say we need him to quit intentionally lying about this trip. He owes the system, and the teachers, a personal apology.
Returning to your comments above re: red light cameras, etc. The first time, God forbid, something happens in a school zone, people will criticize cops for not being there…and priorities will change again. Or if they are in the school zone and someone’s house gets broken into, someone will cry “where were they”? Your priorities may be different than the cops — will you like that? I won’t.
Market Sq. incorporates a good number of college kids, so let’s not pretend it’s all high school kids and their parents. The university plays a big part of that success, and honestly, Knoxville’s downtown renovation pales in comparison to a large number of southern downtown areas. Do we need to improve quality of life here…absolutely. I’d even get behind a specific idea or two if someone would propose them. NO one that I’ve heard has come up with a specific idea….just “we need to have more to do”…
My comments re: the school system responding soon reflect what I perceive is a need to set the record straight. Too much mis-information is going unchallenged by everyone except Mike Mahathy. The system should be attempting to set the record straight. For now, some opinions are based on “I heard this”…like the 13 Vice principals comments, which apparently turned out to be completely false…but made for great drama.
I’m sorry you missed my sarcasm re: alcohol…my fault. It’s not the city that recruits restaurants, it’s that restaurant owner who finds the opportunity. 2-3 nice places are here and full when I drive by them. The riverfront has one. Restaurants we got! We need jobs. But then, EVERY community in the U.S. is in the same boat.
Asking our city council to perform like Knox County in regards to schools is just sad. When I attended college, the belief was that a C student from OR was better prepared than many A and B students from Knoxville…and I’d bet money it’s still that way. That’s why I find no logic in your belief that the schools are less than what they were years ago. BUT, you must remember, our population has changed. But why would we change our goals and standards?
Finally (I apologize for the length of this response) can anyone be more out of touch than Myra Mansfield? She thinks we should “sent middle management to other systems that aren’t in difficult times”. That statement alone should prohibit here from EVER running for public office.
Jeanne Hicks Powers says
We were brought here on the premise that the school was in the top ten or so. It is now not. OR pales in comparison with areas outside of here and the district spends ALOT already /pupil. The poverty rate has gone from 29% to 50.5 % in 10 years, not a great indicator. I want to hear about the average student doing well, not just the upper echelon . People are free to speak their minds and owe none an apology.
I do think the teachers are going to enjoy their trip (paid) to Vegas! I have to pay for every dime I spend to meet my state mandated continuing ed. requirements for my license to work in my profession. I don’t go to Vegas.
We’ve already had 2 cars broken into and things stolen from the school locker while my son attended ORHS. The cops weren’t too concerned on either account … and this was before the red light cameras were here.
I think Myra has hit a nerve and people don’t like that happening. My ties to OR are time dependent and I’ve had my eyes open since the day I moved here. I am not afraid to see OR…. warts and all. It is an old city resting on its past (which is remarkable) but those days are very, very long gone. It has seen such decline since then.
The schools have been very well funded yet the debt grows and the results have not kept up. The City Council needs to focus on bringing in new families , not the school system!
I have to say it’s a shame our son didn’t benefit from the free iPad (or similar computer of the moment) proposal being promoted! We had to rent, buy, or use a payment plan to get these type of items for our children when our kids attended public school!
bill bradley says
Ms. Powers, the world ain’t free. Ballplayers in my day paid for and used their own shoes, paid for their own gas, etc. (A poor example, I know). The free iPad idea is what’s called a NEW idea because the technology demands it and many kids can’t afford it, so we all pony up the money to help those who cannot. And it gives all kids across the board access to the same technology. Surely you understand the world has changed dramatically over the past 5 years! It’s called an investment in our kids, our community, our world.
Cops weren’t too interested when my car got broken into in Chattanooga last month … it’s called a victimless crime. You spoke of priorities earlier…no blood gets little priority these days, I’m afraid. Sorry for your loss(es)…it happens, it’s terrible, it’s the state of the world these days.
You’ve been VERY nonspecific…please point out to me, with specifics, how other school systems IN THIS AREA have achieved what OR kids have this year. I promise, I’ll donate $100.00 to your favorite OR council candidate if you can PROVE to me that “areas” around here get the same awards and scholarships OR kids do.
Let’s discuss average students…i was one. I don’t expect “average” kids to get big awards…yet I expect them to do their best. They might have to work harder…life ain’t fair. I don’t hear many average kids claiming that they were ignored in OR schools.
Top 10 school … but not now you claim. I saw a report where ORHS was listed as one of the top 6 (six) in the state. I think you might be wrong here. And those other schools were mostly magnet schools, one with – as I understand it – NO free and reduced lunch students. I’m sorry, you’re just incorrect here.
OR schools have no control over poverty rates. It’s terrible. But it’s not the schools fault.
So, teachers left school today, fly out Sunday, return Wed. night. I know because I asked. Enjoy it…I sure as hell hope so. Party all night, I doubt. I’m betting most would like to sleep this week, have a cocktail, and rest.
We got warts, yes. It’s not all perfect. It’s a lot better than the raj and trina crowd claim…and by the way, raj does owe an apology…he made claims that are NOT true. I believe he intentionally attempted to stir up a big pile of bologna to get the attention he and trina so adamantly need. It’s really sad, isn’t it, that you can go online and make all the claims you want with no facts to support them…and then when you’re proven wrong, just walk away. What a sad lesson.
City council had better worry about the schools…it’s what we’re known for. We need jobs & families, yes. But the smart money is in our educational future. You cannot dress too well, act too well, or be overly educated.
As far as Myra, she even refuses to tell us, as a candidate where she lives. Please….she’s already clueless.
Jeanne Hicks Powers says
You obviously want to keep engaging so you can lecture. So on that note, I’ll leave you with a final thought. Think of OR schools in the national,no worldwide, arena. Are the students being made ready for that? The horizon needs to expand and that doesn’t necessarily mean throwing more money into the situation or giving each child a device when some of them can afford to buy one… and may already have one.
bill bradley says
I have no desire, or right, to lecture anyone. I think your question is best answered by a teacher(s). I’d encourage you to ask one of them that. But since the supt. has expressed a desire to become or expand a stem program it appears to me they are already addressing “some” needs for the future, doesn’t it?
One reason, as I’m sure you already know, that all students must have the same device is really simple, isn’t it. You have to control the network and the content; otherwise, you might have some kids accessing things that might open up the network to a multitude of viruses. Or accessing internet content that might be unsuitable.
I agree, throwing money at a problem rarely works. I did ask you for specifics and I tried to be as specific as I could, based on my limited knowledge of things in OR. I’m sorry you chose not to do likewise.
I’ve enjoyed it. Take care.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
The opening up a multitude of problems isn’t only on open networks. Ask DOE how their computers on a closed network are constantly requiring security. There is another agenda as to why the schools want to have control of what devices are accepted on school campus, Security is an issue on both sides of the track.
Jason Allison says
How much $ does a teacher need to tell our kids to open a computer and do their work?
Philip W Nipper says
It sure would be nice to live in a community that has exceptional city services like fire and police protection, has great green ways, trails and parks, an outstanding public library, fine tennis courts and swimming pools and one of the top rated school systems in the state and not have to maintain and improve any of it via the use of tax dollars. Hello McFly…anybody in there?? That would be a some kind of perfect world where everybody has everything and gets it for free. If folks want the high level of services and schooling that Oak Ridge has always maintained since inception, then it requires a certain amount of funding via the use of mainly property tax revenues. I think the way to go here is for citizens to accept a modest increase in the property tax rate and for school officials to look for some non intrusive cuts that would not affect the classroom learning environment. Our schools have historically been a solid attribute for attracting potential residents. Let’s not screw THIS one up.