School Budget Reductions Hit Hard

School Budget Reductions Hit Hard and no one knows this more than Superintendent Dr. Jacqueline Brooks. With her permission, ECHOboom is sharing a Facebook post written by Dr. Brooks that explains this dire situation.

Dr. Jacqueline Brooks

I work very hard to make sure all decisions regarding academics, athletics, and finances are shared with the community. For the past few years, I have been sharing in multiple media that the loss of Victoryland contributions to our school system have been detrimental. I have done it through principals’ meetings, board meetings, staff meetings, radio, newspaper, and state of the schools addresses. We are transparent and all board meetings and info are posted on our website.

Thus, this year as reality sets in regarding the Victoryland matter (teachers no longer get bonuses, taxes are halted, etc), we began polling teachers, talking to the board and conducting staff surveys regarding budget reduction measures. The impact from the loss was of Victoryland revenue is $2 million dollars a year. Over the years we have experienced these reductions, the loss equals more than $10 million dollars. No school or employee has been unaware of this. In fact, I have surveyed all employees and shared the findings. I have had a state of the school’s summit and marched to keep Victoryland opened when most folks stayed home.

The survey and input resulted in 18 options. I have shared this and in particular, I have emphasized four options that would immediately address our matter. One option reallocated students and makes GWC grades K-2; TPS 3-5; TIMS 6-8 and BTW 9-12; the other closes TIMS; the other two close TPS; the other 14 are a variety of possibilities.

Neither option closes NHS or DCW, and I might add that these two schools have the highest report grades in our district.

So, for those who are being informed that TPS is closing have been misinformed. I will invite you to come to the meetings! I have had at least four and have four more planned.

Against, closing TPS is one of 18 options proposed in conjunction with teachers/staff and the state dept. Even with that option, it’s repurposing the school
to another agency not closing it.

Again, the board nor I created this options. The social media campaign needs to be directed to state officials who raided our Dog Track which is why we are in this matter.

The state will be here on Monday of this week to continue to review our options, but I stand firm by the fact that we can make decisions without having the state intervene, but they will intervene if we don’t make up the Victoryland shortfall which is 2 million dollars a year. Again, this is misinformation that some decision has been made. We pray for T-100 everyday.

Plus, if we allow the state to decide, they may close several schools. Anyone wanting correct information is welcomed to see me at anytime. A building doesn’t make a school, the people in it do and no plans call for the loss of teachers or principals.

So, regarding any school being an Apple school, I am aware because I found the grant and tasked the tech director with going to the meeting so we could apply. We have three of these with TIMS and CTE also having the same support. Regarding 21st CCLC, I wrote the sample grant and provided the RFP to schools; we have two of these. Regarding Kaboom, I was more than happy to bring this opportunity to our system and am working with the Town of Shorter on the next one. I have also recommended and fully supported each principal’s leadership and career plans to include the NAESP Academy and the Superintendents Academy; so, some principals have other plans in the making and don’t plan to be principals infinitely.

I said that to say I am fully aware of the constitution of every school. If Victoryland were still fully operational,none of this would be up for discussion, but it is. Why I am being made the enemy is baffling as we work to ensure financial requirements with the state are met, folks were not sent a letter in the middle of the night laying them off as some agencies did, and we continue to move forward.

Let me also add that my child who attends TPS is off limits to adult harassment. I am very proud that ALL, not some, of my immediate family are graduates of the Macon County School District and we would not trade the world the experience for anything.

Feel free to see me anytime about this issue. My email is brooksja@maconk12.org or you can stop by to pick up your copy of accurate information.

We welcome and are open to suggestions that add up to the Victoryland shortfall.

The next meeting time and date will be posted on social media.

ECHOboom also will share the information on its platforms including the weekly newsletter, Tuskegee Rising.