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Jul 30, 2008 4:34 pm US/Eastern
Miami Dade, Broward Differ In School Budget Battle
The first day of school is just about three weeks away and as of yet neither Miami Dade nor Broward's school districts have budgets from the coming year.
Everyone agrees that tough cuts are needed everywhere. In Broward the negotiations seem to be going smoothly, but in Miami Dade every step of the process has been contentious and controversial.
The men who operate the Miami Dade and Broward's school districts, some of the largest school districts in the country, both face the same challenge; cut millions from the budget for the upcoming year while saving the classroom.
On one side is Dr. Rudy Crew, the Superintendent of Miami Dade Public Schools; the fourth largest school district in the country. This year he was named National Superintendent of the Year.
On the other is Jim Notter who heads the Broward County Public School District; the sixth largest school district in the country. A year ago, Notter replaced the outgoing superintendent. He has spent 33 years in public education, including 23 years in administrative roles and 10 years as a classroom teacher in Western New York.
Both men are dealing with the same money problem with drastically different outcomes.
In Miami Dade, Crew is facing a near mutiny by teachers who have had their contractually agreed upon pay increases threatened. Crew has also been forced to cut more than 500 positions along with some services for gifted and special needs children in an effort to make up for a $200 million shortfall.
"The single fact is this state is dealing with a situation that rivals the Great Depression. We have to figure out what we can afford to cut and what we can't," said Crew.
In Broward, school board members started looking at what trim from the budget more than a year ago when sales tax revenue started plunging and it was clear property tax reform was looming.
"I know what I have to do to protect children and the classroom," said Notter during a budget meeting earlier this year.
He froze 200 positions and as people left, they weren't replaced. Broward school board members also plan to consolidate their bus routes; all in an effort to cut $60 million from the annual budget.
In Miami Dade, while Crew is credited with raising student achievement some school board members say he's handled the financial crisis all wrong. A trio of school board members have called for his ouster. Crew calls it politics as usual.
"It's a statement of frustration and I can't take it personally," said Crew.
Notter says what he takes personally is the future of South Florida education and with additional state cuts expected next year, he fears there is no place to go but down.
"I believe we are at the brink of funding public education adequately or be willing to accept a second public school system," said Notter.
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