News
TAMPA
Tighten the belts.
That has been the mantra lately in the Hillsborough County School District, which has so far managed to avoid large-scale layoffs despite plunging tax revenues and declining enrollment. • Superintendent MaryEllen Elia has trimmed the administration and eked out savings in every division, from facilities to food services. Vacancies have been left open, support staffers and specialists have been spread more thinly, and class periods have been shortened. • And in a school district with 190,000 students, 250 schools and 25,000 employees, a little bit of trimming can add up to a lot of savings.
2007-2008
Action: Reorganized transportation system to create more efficient bus routes.
Estimated savings: $9,000,000
Action: Changed the high school teaching load from five to six periods daily, reducing the need to hire more teachers.
Estimated savings: $38,000,000
TOTAL: $47,000,000
2008-2009
Action: Reorganized administration and eliminated vacant positions after retirements.
Estimated savings: $5,311,048
Action: Reduced division budgets by 20 percent.
Estimated savings: $3,014,436
Action: Kept vacant positions open beyond a 90-day hiring freeze.
Estimated savings: $5,000,000
Action: Reorganized administrative positions in departments including human resources, business and facilities.
Estimated savings: $870,454
TOTAL: $14,195,938
2009-2010
Action: Ended Deferred Retirement Option Program extensions and filled retirees' positions with employees at lower pay.
Estimated savings: $8,016,576
Action: Decreased the number of guidance counselors and support specialists per student at the elementary, middle and high school level.
Estimated savings: $4,847,330
Action: Decreased the number of media and technology specialists per student at the high school level.
Estimated savings: $385,000
Action: Decreased the number of work days for ROTC instructors, psychologists, social workers, diagnosticians, staffing specialists, transition specialists, health assistants and technical center staffers.
Estimated savings: $1,500,000
Action: Decreased the number of teaching days or minutes for art, music, PE, strings and elementary foreign language teachers.
Estimated savings: $3,560,000
Action: Switched to four-day, 10-hour work weeks during the summer.
Estimated savings: $1,844,595
Action: Reduced staffing levels at middle and high schools.
Estimated savings: $2,299,635
Action: Revised bids for materials and services, and made all contracts negotiable on an annual basis on items ranging from milk and pizza to automated telephone services.
Estimated savings: $2,275,927
Action: Decreased ratio of kindergarten aides per student.
Estimated savings: $3,000,000
Action: Brought contracted services in-house for facilities division, set thermostats to 76 degrees, set chillers to make ice during cooler evening hours.
Estimated savings: $3,335,000
Action: Closed school system during Thanksgiving week.
Estimated savings: $334,087
Action: Spent federal stimulus money on staff training.
Estimated savings: $8,415,050
TOTAL: $39,813,200
2010-2011
Action: Reorganized the middle school schedule from six periods per day to seven, reducing the need for extra teachers to meet new state class size requirements.
Estimated savings: $12,268,820
Action: Analyzed cell phone usage, decreased the use of BlackBerrys and other costly devices.
Estimated savings: $94,535. Over the next five years: $472,675.
Action: Moved from purchasing to a lease program for copiers.
Estimated savings: $642,700. Over the next six years: $3,856,200.
Action: Further reorganized administrative divisions.
Estimated savings: $2,104,850
Action: Decreased summer calendar by one day.
Estimated savings: $230,574
Action: Used district procurement card and electronic payments for purchasing.
Estimated savings: $1,024,120
Action: Redistributed textbooks instead of ordering new ones.
Estimated savings: $601,684
Action: Spent federal stimulus money on staff training.
Estimated savings: $6,615,050
TOTAL: $23,582,333
$124,591,471
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