The month of May brings the traditional end to the school year for public schools. It also can be a difficult time for school administrators as they make personnel decisions for the next school year based on funding available.
The Thomasville City Schools District depends on the State Foundation Program for teacher funding. Funding for the next school year is based on the number of students enrolled the previous school year. Therefore, funding for the 2023-2024 school year will be based on enrollment numbers for 2022-2023.
Vickie Morris, Thomasville City School Superintendent, is completing her first school year. As the executive officer of the school system, she is determined to get the system’s financial affairs in order. Also, with the gradual end of recent federal COVID funding available, school administration officials in Thomasville have tough choices to make while also not disrupting the quality of instruction for students.
The Thomasville district has been losing students steadily over the last several years. Thomasville Middle School and High School enrollment continues to decline. However, there is an upward trend in enrollment at Thomasville Elementary School. There is concern that personnel numbers in the last few years have not been adjusted to match the decrease in funding.
In the 22-23 school year, Thomasville High School had 331.95 students and 24 teaching units. However, THS only had State Foundation funding for 18.49 teacher units. THS is “overstaffed,” Morris said.
Projected for the 23-24 year, THS will have 316.10 students and funding for only 17.61. Seven units will need to be eliminated for 23-24.
In the 22-23 school year, Thomasville Middle School had 306.30 students and 18 teachers. There was only State Foundation funding for 15.21 teachers. Projected for the 23-24 year, TMS will have 264.15 students and State Foundation funding for only 13.20 teacher units. TMS is also overstaffed.
The situation at Thomasville Elementary School is different.
In the 22-23 school year, TES had 399.95 students and 23 teachers. However, the school had State Foundation funding for 26.79 teachers. They were understaffed.
Projected for the 23-24 year, TES will have an increase to 418.60 students and 28.02 in teacher unit funding. TES can add five teacher units.
NOTE: the number of Pre-K students are not figured into the State Foundation teaching units. They receive funding from another state source.
The Thomasville City Board of Education will next meet on May 23 in the THS library. The board will vote on the recommendation from Morris to renew or non-renew non-tenured employees. The personnel actions in that meeting will not be published on-line or in the newspaper until all employees have received their appropriate notices.
Any early communication on the status of non-tenured employees is premature before board action on May 23.
Despite the loss of specific teacher units, the school system is committed to quality instruction for Thomasville students.
There has also been some recent miscommunication about drama and driver’s education classes at THS. “There are no plans to cut these elective classes”, Morris said.
The Thomasville City Council voted May 8 to approve a one-time appropriation of $120,000 to be applied to regular operating expenses.
In addition, the council pledged $35,000 to the position of athletic trainer for the Thomasville school system. That $35,000 is only a third of the funding needed for the trainer position. “Additional funding will be sought by the school from outside sources," Morris said.
The trainer’s salary or benefits will not be paid from State Foundation Program funds.”
“The Thomasville City Schools District must be committed to fiscal responsibility,” Morris said. “Despite loss of funding for teacher units, we have to balance our budget." With this gradual loss of funding over the years, system officials and the school board must be mindful of the one-month of operating expenses mandated by the State Department of Education.