Camden school administration’s vague $314 million budget prompts a do-over

Four sheets of paper with a bunch of numbers -- which raised more questions than it provided answers -- is what the Camden School Board received Wednesday night as an explanation to the district's proposed $315 million budget for 2012-13 school year.

Some board members protested the presentation saying it was unacceptable for the district to give such little explanation on a massive budget. A new presentation is expected for the Feb. 21 work session.

"I'm disappointed and frustrated," said board member Ray Lamboy. "Considering the pressure we are under and the state scrutiny we are facing... and we just got a piece of paper."

Board member Kathryn Blackshear followed up with: "A kid can really put this together."

The proposal does not include federal aid and gives only an estimated number for state aid, which combined make up more than 90 percent of the district's budget. The district received $281 million from the state and about $50 million from federal funds for its $353 million total budget for 2011-12.

The new budget assumes the district will receive the same amount of state aid in 2012-13. However, part one of the confusing paperwork is that it lists a comparison on this year and next year's proposed budget line items and for the 2011-12 year it lists $270 million in state aid and $281 million for next year's state aid. One could assume the district is expecting $11 million more from state.

But the state actually gave the district $281 million for this year's budget. District Business Administrator Celeste Ricketts later explained to me that the additional $11 million came once the books had closed and the budget was never revised.

That was never stated in the "presentation."

Then confusing part No. 2: Remember the controversy a year ago with the district offering to pay $700,000 to have six or seven full-time police officers assigned to the schools? Well that money has yet to leave the school board's bank.

"I have not received an itemized bill," Ricketts told the board.

It was unclear Wednesday night why that money has not been used. Nobody from the school board, Ricketts, nor the new head of security, Gaylen Conley, know what happened to that $700,000 police plan. All we know is it is not listed as a renewed line item for the upcoming year.

The security budget was decreased from $1.3 million to $526,580. But Ricketts couldn't answer if that was due to the non-renewal of police shared services agreement or if Conley's staff, which, currently is more than 100 strong, would be affected.

The district is planning no new programs or school mergers for the coming school year, but it is proposing $1.1 million for school bathroom renovations and close to $200,000 for new security vehicles and maintenance equipment.

Charter schools are expected to eat up a bigger chunk of the budget. The proposed budget lists $46 million for the city's charter schools, an increase of $2.7 million from this year. The increase is due to the likelihood that three new charter schools could open in September, said Superintendent Bessie LeFra Young.

The state Department of Education will not have 2012-13 aid numbers until after the Governor's budget address, scheduled for Feb. 21.

The local tax levy is expected to remain the same as the last few years: $7.45 million.

"This budget was built around the goals of the superintendent," Ricketts told the board.

The "goals" were one of the other confusing parts of the presentation. They were listed in large font spread throughout two pages.

Goal #1: Increase student achievement in Language arts/literacy

Goal #2: Improve and expand the infusion of technology in the district to bring our students up to 21^st century skills.

Goal #3: Continue to implement our plan to address the infrastructure needs of the district in order to provide a safe, secure, healthy and efficient environment that promotes learning.

After asking several different ways how the goals were reflected in the budget and not getting satisfying answers, board member Barbara Coscarello seemed deflated and just stopped asking questions.

Fellow board member Sean Brown also asked for clarification on "21^st Century skills." He also seemed confused by the explanation that it meant having technology and improving students' critical thinking.

"I thought we were changing the culture of this board and administration," Lamboy said in reference to the administration not providing the necessary information. "I will address my question when we have a proper detailed presentation."