State: Schools seek flexibility in funding

The $14.4-million budget cut facing Pinellas County schools would be a bit easier if the district could tap into a pot of money set aside for a new merit pay program. That would free up an additional $3.7-million.

But in Pasco County the merit pay money won't help. It's the technology money that Pasco wants. If Pasco schools could shift $1.3-million set aside for computers and software and put the money into salaries, that would make the $6.4-million budget cut easier to manage.

Across the state, school districts are lobbying, pleading and crossing their fingers in hopes that lawmakers give them flexibility to spend money as they see fit. Each district budget has millions of dollars that cannot be spent in the classroom -- no matter how dire the need -- unless lawmakers give them permission.

That permission appears to be on its way.

"I think we have it worked out to give them flexibility; I think it helps some," said Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Palm Harbor, one of the lawmakers appointed to work out the House and Senate differences in the flexibility package. "There's still going to be some pain. This is a salve for the pain, is probably the best way to put it."

As with many of the decisions during this budget slashing season, flexibility has been a subject of some disagreement.

The House wanted to let districts shift some construction money into salaries. The Senate did not. (That proposal died.) The Senate wanted to delay a mandate to get rid of old portable classrooms. The House did not. (That proposal is likely dead for now.)

Now, with a second special legislative session nearing its end, lawmakers are close to fashioning a package they can live with -- and one that will provide some much-needed relief to cash-strapped school districts.

"Flexibility is the key," said Wayne Blanton, director of the Florida School Boards Association. "It doesn't make sense to have that money tied up in technology or merit pay if we need it in the classroom."

The package under consideration would enable districts to use money set aside for teacher training, technology, safe schools, teacher recruitment signing bonuses, classroom supply money and merit pay. The package also would delay a law that requires school districts to upgrade portables and get rid of old portable classrooms, a project that will cost many districts millions of dollars.

Rep. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, the education appropriations committee chairwoman, said Tuesday she could agree to most of the flexibility items -- except the delay in the portable upgrade, which she said is a "safety issue."

Latvala said Tuesday that the Senate is likely to concede that item.

"I do not think that will remain in the bill," Latvala said. "You have to give one to get one."

That portable classroom issue still could be taken up during the regular legislative session.

Some districts would benefit from one of the remaining flexibility items but not another. (Many of the flexibility items don't affect Hillsborough because it is considered a "charter district" and already enjoys flexibility in spending.)

Pinellas County has already spent its in-service teacher training money for the year. The same with safe-schools money.

"That won't really help us at all," said Pinellas schools budget director Doug Forth.

However, Pinellas has $3.7-million set aside for merit pay this year. Delaying the implementation of that law won't make Gov. Jeb Bush happy, but it will enable Pinellas to spend that money now. Pinellas also has perhaps $1.5-million still remaining out of $2.8-million in technology money. Put that money together, and it starts cutting into Pinellas' total budget shortfall of $14.4-million.

Pasco and many other school districts have not set aside money for the merit pay program that was to be implemented at the end of the school year. The delay doesn't help Pasco. But Pasco would welcome some flexibility in technology funds.

"Those dollars go to hardware and software, not people," said Chuck Rushe, Pasco's chief financial officer. "If we could use that money to pay for our technology specialists, that frees up the money we had been using to pay their salaries. That helps."

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk