DRAFT
Gwinnett County Public Schools, as we do, that public education is an integral part of the seamless fabric of the American experience, we, the Gwinnett County Board of Education, derive our core beliefs and commitments for public education in Gwinnett County from the foundational principles of the United States of America, specifically those espoused in the Declaration of Independence. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, and That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. public schools exist to undergird and advance these principles. They are the one place where all children and youth in our great, diverse country are provided a common, free education. They must educate every child for success in life and for the responsibilities of American citizenship. we commit ourselves to a world-class education that meets the needs of individual students, to a sharp focus on the traditions and values at the heart of our constitutional democracy and the rule of law, and to the civic virtues that bind together communities of many cultures, faiths, viewpoints, interests, and histories into a unified nation. E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. Ensure our core business of teaching and learning is built on a rigorous curriculum, effective instruction, and high-value assessments Educate every student to world-class standards and individual potential Provide a safe and secure learning environment Optimize the school effect to have a positive impact on every child Govern the district fairly and openly, seeking the engagement of the many stakeholders we serve.
Gwinnett County Public Schools will become a system of world-class schools where students acquire the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and careers. The mission of Gwinnett County Public Schools is to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student, resulting in measured improvement against local, national, and world-class standards. Gwinnett County Public Schools will Ensure a world-class education for all students by focusing on teaching and learning the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum. Ensure a safe, secure, and orderly environment for all. Optimize student achievement through responsible stewardship of its financial resources and the proactive pursuit of all resources necessary to meet current and future demands. Recruit, employ, develop, and retain a workforce that achieves the mission and goals of the organization. Support instructional and operational needs with technological systems and processes that support effective performance and desired results. Provide and manage the system's facilities and operations in an exemplary manner as determined by programmatic needs and best management practices. Apply continuous quality improvement strategies and principles as the way the organization does business.
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) continues to support the K-12 education funding formula recommendations from the 2015 Governor s Education Reform Commission, which call for a formula that is student-based, provides local school districts with greater flexibility, and is simpler to understand and administer. GCPS supports adoption of a funding formula that includes the following criteria: Quantitative The formula should establish a base amount per student for all students enrolled, using an objective method of determining the component costs associated with meeting the fundamental educational needs of all students. Student-based The formula should be based on student enrollment and provide funding based on each student s individual characteristics (Special Education, ESOL, Gifted, CTAE, Economically Disadvanteged, etc). Each of the student characteristics should be defined and funding weights established over and above the base amount per student. Adequate The formula should provide districts with full reimbursement for statemandated employer costs including, but not limited to, teacher retirement, health insurance, and training and experience. Equitable, rather than equal As long as property tax remains the sole source of local operating revenue for districts, the Equalization Grant should be retained and fully funded. This will ensure a base, minimum level of funding equity state-wide, so less wealthy districts have the necessary resources to provide students an education that compares equitably to that provided by wealthier districts. If the General Assembly considers a new funding formula, the formula should generate at least as much funding for K-12 education state-wide as would be generated by the current QBE formula if it were fully funded. Furthermore, the state should appropriate the funds required by the formula, as opposed to developing a formula that would generate a predetermined amount of funds to be appropriated. Gwinnett County Public Schools supports eliminating the local target collection amount threshold from the TAVT legislation and utilizing the rates of distribution for each year as presently included in O.C.G.A. 48-5C-1. The inclusion of a Local Target Collection Amount for state-wide TAVT collections prohibits many school districts and local municipalities from receiving the minimum amount of TAVT collections required to be made whole for lost motor vehicle Ad Valorem Tax collections.
GCPS supports a comprehensive review of the state s health benefit plan in order to contain the escalating costs for school districts and their employees. Significant attention should be given to finding a solution to the ever-increasing burden being placed on school districts to fund the employer costs for non-certificated personnel. We urge the General Assembly to consider all possible solutions, including both cost savings and the restoration of state appropriations for employer costs of health benefits for noncertificated personnel. Fully fund K-12 education under the existing QBE formula. The state s funding commitment also should include equalization funding and protection of the K-12 education appropriation from further austerity reductions. Since FY2003, austerity cuts to the QBE funding formula have resulted in a loss of state revenue for Gwinnett County Public Schools of $899.6 million. 2003 $10.7 million 2004 2005 2006 $22.9 million $27.6 million $27.0 million 2007 $15.5 million 2008 $13.4 million 2009 $47.4 million 2010 2011 2012 $132.7 million $107.9 million $113.9 million 2013 $113.3 million 2014 $107.0 million 2015 $76.8 million 2016 2017 2018 $48.7 million $17.4 million $17.4 million *** For FY11, the State used Federal Stabilization funds of $12,397,558 to offset a portion of the austerity reduction. The net austerity reduction was $95,509,018. ** For FY10, the State used Federal Stabilization funds of $60,851,349 to offset a portion of the austerity reduction. The net austerity reduction was $71,886,294. * For FY09, the State used Federal Stabilization funds of $15,171,612 to offset a portion of the austerity reduction. The net austerity reduction was $32,202,827
Local boards should retain their authority in the following areas: Gwinnett County Public Schools supports the state in its commitment to ensuring a rigorous and engaging curriculum for all students as captured in the Georgia Standards of Excellence. Nonetheless, we oppose any state mandates that would impede the teaching of Gwinnett County Public Schools Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) Curriculum. GCPS opposes any state legislation, rules, or guidance that would reduce funding or access for GCPS opposes any state legislation, rules, or guidance that would impose certain requirements on a local education agency or in any way hinder the LEA s ability to select and adopt instructional resources through a district-developed autonomous process. GCPS urges the state to pursue aggressively the opportunity to participate in the Innovative Assessment Pilot authorized in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Furthermore, GCPS urges the state to develop, or allow local districts to develop, a comprehensive, balanced assessment system that measures student learning in a more meaningful, cohesive manner. Such a system should be comprised of fewer, more rigorous district-developed formative assessments, as well as summative and norm-referenced assessments, administered at limited key grade levels.
Decisions relating to the student behavior code and student discipline should be left to local boards of education. No additional legislation is necessary that would require an LEA to implement further measures related to the management of its student code of conduct. GCPS acknowledges the existence of a number of social issues that impact school operations, climate, and instruction. We urge the Georgia General Assembly to refrain from adopting legislation as a means of mandating operational controls for these issues. Current legislation exists that adequately protects the rights of all individuals. Local boards of education should not be restricted by legislation from levying local Ad Valorem Taxes to ensure funding for the quality K-12 educational programs their citizens expect. Any change in the tax code that would adversely affect the ability of local boards of education to generate local revenue should be opposed. Establishment of the annual school-year calendar, including starting and ending dates and the establishment of the instructional day, should rest solely with local boards of education. GCPS supports full flexibility from Title 20 mandates for a Strategic Waiver School System without requiring the system to identify specific provisions to be waived. The current requirement of identifying specific provisions limits the intent of flexibility. Gwinnett County Public Schools supports charter schools as authorized in the Charter Schools Act of 1998. GCPS supports holding charter schools accountable to the same level of academic achievement and financial stewardship expected of all public schools. We also support the allocation of funding to charter schools (i.e., state special schools or locally approved charter schools) which is no more or no less favorable than the allocation provided by statute to public schools. GCPS does not support proposed rules or guidance that would impede or hinder the constitutional authority of a local board of education and increase bureaucracy through unnecessary state-mandated compliance.
GCPS supports a comprehensive annual review of sales tax and state tax exemptions, in order to eliminate any financial and budgetary impact on local educational agencies. Gwinnett County Public Schools urges the Georgia General Assembly to refrain from adopting legislation that is in conflict with the recommendations in the Vision for Public Education in Georgia. GCPS supports the implementation of the provision in HB 338 that calls for the creation of The Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a Leadership Academy for the purpose of recommending a framework for a potential leader preparation and development academy for Georgia. GCPS supports the establishment of a statewide leadership academy and urges the legislature to appropriate the necessary level of funding to ensure the successful implementation of such an academy. The safety and security of students at school is a priority. Federal, State, and local agencies need to provide school districts with the resources to maintain a safe and secure environment for students in order to support current policies and procedures. Local systems should not be required to provide contracts of employment for classified employees. Emphasis should be put on enhancing the benefits provided for classified employees.
Legislation that allocates public funds for private schools or home study programs through voucher or tuition tax credits or scholarships should be opposed. No verifiable, objective research exists that correlates vouchers or tuition tax credits with improved academic achievement. Furthermore, vouchers or tuition tax credits erode public education funding, thereby limiting the programs and services available for students who attend public schools. Establish a mandatory, minimum 12-month waiting period prior to the implementation of any new state education legislation. In addition, require a clear and complete description of the potential fiscal, operational, and programmatic impact of the legislation on local schools and school districts. Continue supporting legislation that provides local educational agencies options to implement flexibility in order to increase student achievement and operational effectiveness. Fund capital outlay at the 100% funding level for Regular Entitlement.
FY2018 Requests Gwinnett s Total Cost State Funds Gwinnett s Funds State Percentage Local Percentage Maintenance and Operations $115,887,000 [ 18] $110,293,000 [ 17] $106,035,000 [ 16] $99,827,000 [ 15] $96,196,000 [ 14] $54,399,000 [ 18] $54,399,000 [ 17] $53,710,000 [ 16] $52,811,000 [ 15] $51,463,000 [ 14] $61,488,000 [ 18] $55,894,000 [ 17] $52,325,000 [ 16] $47,016,000 [ 15] $44,733,000 [ 14] 46.94% [ 18] 49.32% [ 17] 50.65% [ 16] 52.90% [ 15] 53.50% [ 14] 53.06% [ 18] 50.68% [ 17] 49.35% [ 16] 47.10% [ 15] 46.50% [ 14] Instructional Materials, Supplies and Textbooks $20,746,000[ 18] $21,916,000[ 17] $28,833,000 [ 16] $21,270,000 [ 15] $32,107,000 [ 14] $19,300,000 [ 18] $19,300,000 [ 17] $18,900,000 [ 16] $18,255,000 [ 15] $17,708,000 [ 14] $1,446,000 [ 18] $2,616,000 [ 17] $9,933,000 [ 16] $3,015,000 [ 15] $14,399,000 [ 14] 93.03% [ 18] 88.06% [ 17] 65.55% [ 16] 85.83% [ 15] 55.15% [ 14] 6.97% [ 18] 11.94% [ 17] 34.45% [ 16] 14.17% [ 15] 44.85% [ 14] Training and Experience Lag $2,314,000 [ 18] $2,831,000 [ 17] $5,689,000 [ 16] $6,029,000 [ 15] $3,200,000 [ 14] $2,314,000 [ 18] $2,831,000 [ 17] $5,689,000 [ 16] $6,029,000 [ 15] $3,200,000 [ 14] 0.0 100.00% [ 18] 100.00% [ 17] 100.00% [ 16] 100.00% [ 15] 100.00% [ 14] Sick and Personal Leave $14,451,000 [ 18] $13,591,000 [ 17] $12,208,000 [ 16] $11,117,000 [ 15] $10,869,000 [ 14] $1,844,000 [ 18] $1,844,000 [ 17] $1,812,000 [ 16] $1,773,000 [ 15] $1,723,000 [ 14] $12,607,000 [ 18] $11,747,000 [ 17] $10,396,000 [ 16] $9,344,000 [ 15] $9,146,000 [ 14] 12.76% [ 18] 13.57% [ 17] 14.84% [ 16] 15.95% [ 15] 15.85% [ 14] 87.24% [ 18] 86.43% [ 17] 85.16% [ 16] 84.05% [ 15] 84.15% [ 14] Transportation (State-mandated services only, estimated) $81,843,000 [ 18] $79,314,000 [ 17] $75,176,000 [ 16] $69,886,000 [ 15] $65,928,000 [ 14] $5,338,000 [ 18] $5,341,000 [ 17] $5,198,000 [ 16] $5,214,000 [ 15] $5,180,000 [ 14] $76,505,000 [ 18] $73,973,000 [ 17] $69,978,000 [ 16] $64,672,000 [ 15] $60,748,000 [ 14] 6.52% [ 18] 6.73% [ 17] 6.91% [ 16] 7.46% [ 15] 7.86% [ 14] 93.48% [ 18] 93.27% [ 17] 93.09% [ 16] 92.54% [ 15] 92.14% [ 14] Gwinnett Retirement System $37,499,000 [ 18] $30,268,000 [ 17] $27,718,000 [ 16] $36,954,000 [ 15] $29,555,000 [ 14] $37,499,000 [ 18] $30,268,000 [ 17] $27,718,000 [ 16] $36,954,000 [ 15] $29,555,000 [ 14] 0.0 100.00% [ 18] 100.00% [ 17] 100.00% [ 16] 100.00% [ 15] 100.00% [ 14] Austerity Reduction (See notes 1-2) $17,435,000 [ 18] $17,480,000 [ 17] $48,658,000 [ 16] $76,824,000 [ 15] $107,046,000 [ 14] $17,435,000 [ 18] $17,480,000 [ 17] $48,658,000 [ 16] $76,824,000 [ 15] $107,046,000 [ 14] 0.0 100.00% [ 18] 100.00% [ 17] 100.00% [ 16] 100.00% [ 15] 100.00% [ 14] Prior years figures are based on actual costs. Current year figures reflect FY2018 budget projections.