A Journey Through our School Budget Process

HC*EXCELL and
The Hamblen County P-16 Council Presents
The 2004-2005 Hamblen County Education Report
A Journey Through our School Budget Process
This Report is About Our
Money and Our Schools!
The purpose of this report is to inform you of where the money comes from
to pay for our children’s education and how this money is being allocated.
Hamblen County is Tennessee’s 3rd smallest county in geographic size
and yet it is the state’s 20th largest school system.
Why this Report?
This report was developed to help our residents and citizens understand
the education budget process. It is for parents, voters, taxpayers, educators, students and all who care about the future of our community.
Did You Know?
“An Educated Citizenry Creates a Healthy Economy”
That means Good Working Conditions, High Wages, and Quality Jobs
„Hamblen County ranks 20th of 95 counties in personal income, 19th in ability to generate local sales tax
and 18th in ability to generate revenue through property assessment.
„Tennessee Ranked 46th out of 50 States in Per Pupil Expenditure and in the number of High School Diplomas.
„Hamblen County Ranked 51st out of 136 School Districts in Per Pupil Expenditure.
„Tennessee Ranked 10th out of 12 Southeastern States in Per Pupil Expenditure.
„Tennessee ranks 50th in voter turnout of the 50 United States of America.
„Tennessee has the lowest tax burden in the nation when state and local taxes are measured as a percentage
of income. (State Policy-Reports)
„49% of all children who do not know the alphabet as they enter kindergarten are middle class or higher.
„High quality pre-K programs can return more than $7 to society for every $1 initially invested i.e. wages,
reduced costs on special education, welfare dependency, and crime.
„Many states plan how many future jail cells to build based on how many children are not reading at
grade level by third grade.
2 CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Hamblen County P-16 Council Vision
Dear Stakeholder,
HC*EXCELL, Hamblen County s Foundation
for
Educational Excellence and Achievement, and
the
Hamblen County P-16 Council recognize that an
educated
citizenry creates a healthy economy. Citizens and
residents
who value education are fundamental to building a
knowledge-based community. The interest and
support of each of you;
(taxpayer, educator, student, parent, employer,
government official and community activist) are
needed for Hamblen County to remain competitive
in the global economy.
W e try annually to understand how our tax money
is being used to educate our children. Let this
report be your roadmap to greater knowledge
about where your tax dollars are going in education. The numbers are not always easy to understand. Take your time, read the report, ask questions, talk with friends, get involved and know the
facts about why the future of our community
depends on the development of a knowledgebased, skilled workforce. The seeds planted today
will determine tomorrow s future for Hamblen
County. This Report was modeled after the successful Charlotte Advocates for Education Guide
which was praised by "Managing School Business"
in 2002.
The Hamblen County P-16 Council will create a strong and sustainable school and community partnership to coordinate and/or provide a
comprehensive set of programs and supports for preschool through
grade sixteen students.
Hamblen County P-16 Mission
The Hamblen County P-16 Council will bring together stakeholders
from the private and public sectors to promote and develop competent,
caring and qualified educators in grades P-16; strengthen connections,
communication and smooth transitions to improve student learning,
parent knowledge and community commitment/involvement at all levels; and increase public involvement and awareness of the link between
an educated citizenry and a healthy economy.
Hamblen County
P-16 Goals
Goal 1: Make Education the #1 Priority in Hamblen County.
Goal 2: Recruit, retain and develop qualified educators.
Goal 3: Ensure continuity and consistency of quality education
throughout P-16. (Preschool-Higher Education)
Definition of P-16:
The shorthand term for a
student-focused, comprehensive and integrated
system that links all education
levels
from
preschool (P) through
Grade 16. It is a powerful
tool for citizens and policymakers to use to
improve teaching and
learning and thus better
prepare students for living, learning, and working
in a changing world.
A healthy economy follows a quality education system. Well-paid jobs, good benefits
first-rate working conditions seek out a skilled workforce. How a community values
its education is confirmed by the support it provides its school system. Many individuals and groups helped develop the 2004-2005 Hamblen County Education Report.
We are grateful to each and every one of you. We especially want to thank the Citizen
Tribune who stepped up and offered to bring this report to you, the residents and citizens of Hamblen County.
We also appreciate the contributions of Ricky Bruce and the Education Committee of
the Hamblen County Commission; Dr. Dale Lynch and his administrators; the Hamblen County Board of Education, Bill Brittain, County Trustee; David Purkey and the
County Mayor’s office; and all who provided information for this report and helped to
ensure its accuracy.
As William Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize winner said “ The Fundamental Cure for
Poverty is not Money, but Knowledge.” Hopefully, the information in this report will
provide you with improved knowledge of the Hamblen County school budget and its
process and will encourage you to become involved in the future of your community.
Hamblen County P-16
Council Co-Leaders
Anderson Smith
President HC*EXCELL
Gary Chesney
HC Board of Education
Ricky Bruce
HC County Commission
Kay Senter
Morristown City Council
Lynn Elkins
Tennessee Technology Center
CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005 3
Did you know?
Hamblen County and Tennessee Facts
„Hamblen County School System (HCSS) is the 20th largest of 136 Tennessee school systems, based on 2004-2005-student enrollment.
„Hamblen County's property tax ranks 75th out of 95 counties and is $2.06 as compared to the state average of $2.48.
„In 1990, 6,933 people (13.9%) in Hamblen County lived at or below the federal poverty level. By 2002,16.72% lived in poverty.
„Hamblen County School System is the 3rd largest employer in Hamblen County. HCSS employed 1,151 people in 2004-2005.
„Operating funds cover day-to-day expenses and make up the Annual Budget.
„The Annual Budget is used for operating expenses only (not capital expenses) and is paid for by county, state and federal government
funds.
„Capital funds cover large expenses like buildings, computers and new buses. Major repairs and expansions are paid for through bond
issues.
„Tennessee ranks 46th out of 50 states in per pupil expenditures and high school diplomas.
„Hamblen County spends $9,252.76 a year per prisoner for incarceration and $6,448.00 per student for education.
„Tennessee ranks 10th out of the 12 Southeastern states in per pupil expenditure.
„Hamblen County teacher entry salaries rank 117th out of 136 Tennessee school systems.
„Hamblen County ranks 20th in the state ACT scores with an average of 20.7 and rising. U.T. Knoxville requires a 24 for entry.
„Hamblen County ranks 51st of 136 school districts instate per pupil spending.
„The vast majority of Hamblen County School system spending is on salaries and benefits. Together these two make up 78.5% of the
Hamblen County School Budget.
More Information Available Ahead
Directory
Page
3
4
5
6
Hamblen County and Tennessee Facts
Hamblen County School System Overview- A brief
introduction to the Hamblen County School System: including
statistics, comparisons to other districts, and information on
major influences.
Page
10
Other Hamblen County Facts of Interest
11
Hamblen County Tax History
12
12
Hamblen County Schools - contact information
The Two Major Components of the Hamblen County
School Budget -Explains the difference between the two main
types of school funding: operating and capital.
13
Operations - Review of county, state and federal operating
revenue sources.
15
National Comparison - Comparison information on revenue and expenditure per student
Operations: How the Revenue is Spent - Breaks down the
2004-2005 School Budget. Looks at expenses for staff, transportation, maintenance, food service and special programs.
Capital - Upkeep and Growth - Financial Planning for the
future
Investment Return - What we get for our money
How You Can Become Involved
7
Capital -Financial source and process for expansion growth
16
10
15
Resources - Contacts and addresses for more information
4 CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Hamblen County School Budget Overview
Hamblen County School System received a budget of $62,042,249 from state, federal, and local sources for the 2004-2005 school year.
Teaching students, transferring them from home to school and back, providing breakfast and lunch for them, taking care of school facilities and
grounds is the work of the Hamblen County Annual School Budget. The budget also includes funds for the new pre-school programs, summer programming and English language learning. Your federal, state and local monies pay for salaries, health benefits, professional development and
retirement benefits. Capital improvements such as renovations of current buildings, construction of new buildings, technology and transportation
purchases are paid for by short-term loans and/or long term bonds.
Any way you look at it, Hamblen County School System is a leading component of our local economy. Nineteen pre K-12 schools serve 58,851
county residents; the district covers 161 miles, the entire area of Hamblen County. The Chamber of Commerce ranks HCSS as the county’s 3rd
largest-employer with 1,151 employees. Hamblen County School System serves more than 9,600 students. The average daily attendance is 8401.
Our children and our future are at the core of this large investment. The goal of business is to make a profit. To achieve this, they must produce
a quality product. A school system’s goal is to provide its community with knowledge-based, skilled graduates who will be productive workers
and community members while ensuring equity and excellence for all students.
*Title 1 Schools of Hamblen County
Hamblen County School Profile
Elementary K-5
11
Pre - Jumpstart 4 yr old
(program in K-5 school)
1
Middle Schools
4
High Schools
2
Alternative School
1
Total Number of Schools
19
rd
te Report Ca
ta
S
4
0
0
-2
3
0
**20
1. Fairview
2. Hillcrest
3. John Hay
4. Lincoln Heights
5. Union Heights
6. West Elementary
7. Whitesburg
8. Witt Elementary
9. Lincoln Heights Middle
10. Meadowview Middle
*Title 1: Federally funded programs in high poverty schools
for improving low achievement scores. East Ridge will be
added in 2005-2006.
2004 HCSS Student Facts **
African-American
Number of Students
575
Asian
Hispanic (Latino)
97
760
Native American/Multiracial
White
Pacific Islander
(English as a second language)
Limited English proficient
Students with disabilities
Economically disadvantaged
Title 1
10
8,282
5
496
1,232
3,523
4,081
Percent of Students
5.9%
1.0%
7.8%
.01%
85.1%
0.1%
5.4%
13.4%
38.3%
48.4%
CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005 5
Alpha Elementary School
5620 Old U. S. Hwy 11-E
Morristown, TN 37814
Principal: Dr. Julia Price
Assistant Principal: Diana Gresham
PH: (423) 581-3440 - Grades K-5
Meadow View Middle School
1623 Meadowview Lane
Morristown, TN 37814
Principal: Ronald R. Wright
Asst. Principal:Domique Buckingham
PH: (423) 581-6360 - Grades 6-8
East Ridge Middle School
6595 St. Clair Road
Whitesburg, TN 37891
Principal: Marcia Carlyle
Assistant Principal: Richard Goforth
PH: (423) 581-3041 - Grades 6-8
Miller Boyd Alternative School
376 Snyder Road
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: Tami Morelock
PH: (423) 585-3785
Fairview-Marguerite Elementary School
2125 Fairview Road
Morristown, TN 586-4098
Principal: Suzanne Wampler
Ph: (423) 586-4098 - Grades K-5
West View Middle School
1 Indian Path
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: G.W. Scott Walker
PH: (423) 581-2407 - Grades 6-8
John Hay Elementary School
501 Brittain Court
Morristown, TN 37814
Principal: Eddie Amos
PH: (423) 586-1080 - Grades K-5
Whitesburg Elementary School
7859 E. A.J. Hwy.
Whitesburg, TN 37891
Principal: William Southern
PH: (423 235-2547 - Grades K-5
Lincoln Heights Elementary School
215 Lincoln Avenue
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: Janet Dalton
PH: (423) 586-9458 - Grades K-5
Manley Elementary School
551 West Elementary Road
Morristown, TN 37814
Principal: Jeffrey Moorhouse
Assistant Principal: Paula Combs
PH: (423) 586-7400 - Grades Pre-K-5
Union Heights Elementary School
3366 Old Enka Hwy
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: Lynn Sullivan
PH: (423) 586-1502 - Grades K-5
West Elementary School
235 West Converse Street
Morristown, TN 37814
Principal: Dwayne Moore
PH: (423) 586-1263 Grades K-5
Hillcrest Elementary School
407 South Liberty Hill Road
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: John Clawson
PH: (423) 586-7472 - Grades K-5
Lincoln Heights Middle School
219 Lincoln School
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: James D. Templin
PH: (423) 581-3200 - Grades 6-8
Russellville Elementary School
5655 Old Russellville Pike
Russellville, TN 37860
Principal: Samuel K. Taylor III
Asst. Principal: Teresa-Murph Smith
PH:(423) 586-6560 - Primary Campus
PH:(423) 585-3861 - Intermediate Campus
Grades K-5
Witt Elementary School
4650 South Davy Crockett Pkwy
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: Stanley Harville
PH: (423) 587-2684 - Grades K-5
M-H High School East
One Hurricane Lane
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: Gary Johnson
Asst.Principal: Bradley Hall
Asst. Principal: Patricia Sigler
PH: (423) 586-2543 - Grades 9-12
M-H High School West
1025 Sulphur Springs Road
Morristown, TN 37813
Principal: Michael Reed
Asst: Principal: Jerry Thompson
PH: (423) 581-1600 - Grades 9-12
Hamblen County Department
of Education
210 East Morris Blvd.
Morristown, TN 37813
PH: (423) 586-7700
6 CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Tw o F inancial Components Mak e Up the
Hamb len County Sc hool Budg et
The first component is the Operating Budget. Local, state and federal tax dollars are all part of monies used to pay
for the operating costs of a school system. Operating expenses are the costs associated with managing a school system
on a daily basis. Examples of these costs are: wages and benefits, power and water, and transportation.
Operating funds can include short-term capital outlay notes for buses, computers, etc.
The Second Component of the School Budget is the Capital/ Building side - These funds are for large projects such
as construction of new school facilities or major equipment purchases that last for long periods of time (years), as opposed
to Operating Expenses, which are consumed over a short period of time: days, weeks, months. Capital expenses are items
or projects paid for by using short-term loans and long-term bonds and are paid for over a period of time.
Bond - mechanism that local governments use to borrow money to finance major projects, like a new school building
program and is paid for over time.
Capital Expenditure
Short Term loans (three years or less) for school buses, computers, etc.
Long Term - Bonds issued over 20 years for buildings
How does HCSS distribute its funds to meet this goal? What sources of money---federal, state, or county---fund which
type of services? As a taxpayer, you have made a major investment in the future of Hamblen County’s children. What
return on your investment do you receive? Who makes school budget funding and spending decisions and how can you
get involved? You'll find out in the sections ahead
Capital/Building Improvement Plan Process
„Local long-term school projections (of population growth and shifts) determine future community educational needs.
„Hamblen County School administration develops a school capital improvement plan in partnership with
the Hamblen County School Board.
„Hamblen County School System then presents the capital improvement plan to the Hamblen County legislative body for consideration during the budget process.
„The County Commission decides at what level to fund requests and if bonds are needed.
„When bonds are issued, local taxes repay the bonds.
CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005 7
Oper a tions: Dail y Sc hool Expenses
Before the school system can start its year, a preliminary school budget must be created by
the Hamblen County School administration (Director of Schools and heads of departments).
Next the school administrators present their budget to the Hamblen County Board of Education. Together these two examine and revise the budget that is presented to the Hamblen County Commission. Lastly, the County Commission decides how much money the school system
will receive for the upcoming year.
Elements that impact school costs
„Federal mandates
„State mandates
„The economy
„Growth in the district
„Public input
The majority of funding is mandatory.
The State of Tennessee and the Federal government provided ($35,819.710) or 57.7% of the total Hamblen County School budget.
HCSS has constraints on federal and state spending. State funds (and even more of federal funds) must be used for certain types of expenses, and
spending must follow certain guidelines.
Local tax dollars are mostly for the daily operations of schools, transportation, supplies and upkeep. State dollars are basically restricted
to educator wages and benefits and Federal dollars are typically used for designated programs.
Local Funding
State and local governments partner to provide most of the funding for the public school system. State law requires that 50 cents of every local
option sales tax dollar go to education. The remainder goes to the jurisdiction where it was collected (i.e. City of Morristown, Hamblen County, City
of White Pine). County commissioners decide how much of additional local tax dollars are appropriated for education.
The Hamblen County Commission is responsible for the funding of the Hamblen County School System through taxation of property, sales
tax revenue, wheel taxes, fines, fees and permits. The Hamblen County School Board sets policy for the school system but does not have taxing authority.
School System’s Three Types of Spending
School Operating costs: Local tax dollars used to pay for daily operations including wages, retirement, facilities, classroom supplies and
upkeep costs.
School Debt Service: Hamblen County Commission designates current tax dollars to retire short and long term debt (interest and principal)
incurred during the construction of new buildings and renovations.
Capital Replacement: Debt funded on an on-going basis for maintenance improvement of large equipment including heat and air conditioning, buses, and replacement of technology systems and roofs.
8 CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Other Local Funding
Other local resources, such as wheel tax, bank excise tax, and school license tags also benefit Hamblen County Schools. These resources amount
to about $848,076 or a little more than one percent of the 2004-2005 Annual Budget.
„Charges for Services: Money received from lunch payments by students and staff and money received from tuition from Adult Education Program.
„Other Local Revenue: Bank excise tax ($80,000), investment income, facility rental and insurance recovery.
„Note proceeds: Money received from capital outlay notes to buy buses and other capital items.
„Transfers: Money moved from school food services account or school federal projects account to the school general purpose account to reimburse for expenses paid from the general purpose account.
„Budgeted Reserves: the State of Tennessee requires school systems to maintain a reserve (fund balance) equal to 3 %of their operating budgets.
The money exceeding 3% can be budgeted for one-time capital expenditures.
CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005 9
State Funding
In 2004-2005, Tennessee’s Department of Education divided more than $3,894,413,200 in funds among 136 school districts, including
Hamblen County. Hamblen County’s portion of this amount was $27,020,949 or 6.9% of the state education budget.
The BEP (Basic Education Program) determines the amount of money each Tennessee school district receives from the state. This BEP
is a complex set of formulas that consider a county’s ability to generate funds from revenue, its number of students, the special needs of the
district, average income level, and many other factors. Most state funding is categorical and must be used for specific programs. HCSS
ranked 51st out of 136 districts in per pupil funds received from the state in the 2003-2004 school year.
Many factors influence a local government's ability to raise revenue for education. The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) provides the fiscal capacity figures used to determine the required local share in the Basic Education Program
(BEP) formula. Fiscal capacity is calculated for each of the 95 Tennessee county areas and is based on the factors that best predict the amount
of revenue local governments in Tennessee can be expected to raise for education.
TACIR updates the data in the model and produces a new measure of fiscal capacity each year based on the average of three-years of
data. The factors found by TACIR to best predict actual revenue for education include:
„Tax base: Total taxable sales and equalized assessed property values
„Ability to pay (taxpayer equity): Per capita income
„Resident tax burden: Ratio of residential and farm property assessment to total property assessment
„Service Responsibility: Ratio of average daily membership of students in public schools to total population
Hamblen County is Tennessee’s 18th wealthiest county. Its 2002 per capital income was $24,747 the 23rd highest per capita county
income in the state.
Federal Funding
Most federal funds must be used for federally mandated programming like the school nutrition program or Title I. The federal government had designed formulas for appropriating these tax dollars for special-needs students. Hamblen County received a total of $8,798,761
in federal funding for the 2004-2005 school year.
*HCSS Federal Funding Dollars and Program Examples
Amount
Program
School Nutrition Program (school lunches and breakfasts)**
Title I (for economically disadvantaged students)
Part B Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Title I C - Migrant Education
Preschool Children with Disabilities
Title II A - Teacher Quality
Title II D - Education Technology Funds
Title III - English Language Acquisition
Title IV
- Safe and Drug Free Schools
Title V - Innovative Programs
Carl Perkins Funding - Career and Technical Education
* 2004 -2005 school year
$1,813,192
$1,874,488
$1,936,864
$70,133
$64,932
$457,577
$50,734
$91,313
$53,716
$45,189
$192,186
10 CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Ca pital: W her e the Mone y Comes F r om
Local Capital is obtained through the sale of bonds. These bond issues
go for school renovations and new facilities. Through bond issues, we can
construct buildings today and pay for them over time (like a
house mortgage or rental payments).
Major construction projects start as a strategic, longrange educational facility plan and are completed over a
set period of time. That is why it is important to begin planning for tomorrow today.
„Local long-term community projections (population growth and shifts) determine future school needs
and development.
„The Board of Education develops the Hamblen county capital improvement program in partnership with the Hamblen county administration.
„Hamblen County Board of Education
then presents the Capital Improvement program to the
Hamblen County legislative body for consideration
during the budget process.
„The County Commission decides at what level to
fund requests and if bonds are needed.
„When bonds are issued, local taxes repay
the bonds.
Other Hamblen County Facts of Interest
„In Hamblen County 27,278 adults or (69.3% of the age
group 25 and older) have a high school or college degree
(compared to 80.4% in the nation). In this same age
group, 5,234 (13.3%) have a bachelor's degree (compared
to 24.4% in the nation). (U.S census 2000)
„According to the latest census, the number of adults in Hamblen County with less than nine years of education (K-8) is 5,397, and these
adults are considered functionally illiterate.
„30% of the adult population (25 years of age and older) have not graduated from high school
- this translates to approximately 12,000 adults in Hamblen County who need adult education services.
„In a National study of welfare-to-work programs, those who received a GED saw their income earnings increase by 30%, while those who went
from adult education to post secondary education increased their earnings by 47%.
„One in every 20- college freshman is a GED graduate.
„The average kindergarten student has seen more than 5,000 hours of television: This is more time in front of the TV than it takes to earn a bachelor's degree. (U.S. Department of Education)
OTHER FACTS - Children who participate in high quality pre-K programs;
„Enter school with better language skills and get along better with peers
„Are 40% less likely to need special education or to be held back a grade
„Are more likely to graduate from high school, go to college and be employed
CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005 11
Hamb len County Tax Histor y
Raised rate .15 moved
.04 from Debt Service
to General Fund, used
$400,000 in
non-recurring funds
.03 moved from Debt
Service to General
Fund
98-99
99-00
00-01
01-02
02-03
03-04
Budgeted
04-05
Local Revenue Summary
Increase
% Growth
3,951,412
5,107,977
1,156,018
29.27%
5,566,995
459,018
8.99%
5,012,296
-554,699
-9.96%
5,698,502
686,206
13.69%
6,297,714
599,212
10.52%
6,356,432
58,718
0.93%
General
General Purpose Schools
General Debt Service
Total Inside Rate
Solid Waste
Total Tax Rate
$0.48
$1.44
$0.50
$2.42
$0.12
$2.54
$0.48
$1.44
$0.50
$2.42
$0.12
$2.54
$0.39
$1.18
$0.34
$1.91
$0.09
$2.00
$0.39
$1.18
$0.34
$1.91
$0.09
$2.00
$0.46
$1.30
$0.30
$2.06
$0.09
$2.15
$0.49
$1.30
$0.27
$2.06
$0.30
$2.36
$0.49
$1.30
$0.27
$2.06
$0.30
$2.36
2000
2001
2002
2003
$919,770,554
$35,448,031
$955,218,585
$924,577,433
$34,963,118
$959,540,561
Wheel Tax
is
Reappraisal
Assessed Valuation
1999
Real and Personal
Public Utilities
Total Assessed Valuation
$646,000,000
$29,329,000
$675,329,000
$886,365,615
$38,498,920
$924,864,535
$904,657,0000
$36,905,270
$941,562,270
Increase
Growth
$18,328,429
2.79%
$249,535,535
36.95%
$16,697,735
1.81%
Schools General Purpose
County General Fund
Wheel Tax Total
$4
$23
$27
$4
$23
$27
$17
$10
$27
County Property
1999
2000
2001
Current Property Tax
Trustees Collection
Prior Year
Circuit/Clerk & Masters
Interest and Penalty
Pick-up Taxes
Payments in Lieu – TVA
Payments in Lieu
Local Utilities
Payments in Lieu – Other
$3,181,449
$3,469,062
$105,978
$43,622
$13,237
$13,656,315
1.45%
$4,321,976
0.45%
$17
$14
$27
$13
$14
$27
$13
$14
$27
2002
2003
Budgeted
$3,499,541
$4,208,881
$4,437,528
$4,468,800
$486
$89,230
$2,421
$20,747
$149
$486
$96,058
$21,630
$24,266
$855
$486
$135,235
$46,505
$44,522
$791
$486
$149,193
$30,634
$38,841
$2
$532
$135,000
$25,000
$30,000
$0
$532
$28,484
$5,703
$31,232
$0
$37,352
$4,718
$34,814
$1,970
$40,951
$2,293
$40,000
$2,600
$711
$0
$986,716
$114,534
$4,527
$0
$1,161,856
$148.035
$5,898
$0
$551,246
$117,647
$0
$0
$519,402
$126,540
$0
$0
$763,802
$138,069
$0
$0
$754,000
$254,000
$14,534
$60,044
$76,012
$6129
$50,745
$40,000
$0
$583,640
$0
$579,206
$0
$576,587
$0
$567,541
$0
$639,528
$0
$600,000
Wheel Tax
County Local Option
Local Option Sales Tax
Hotel/Motel Tax
Wheel Tax
Litigation Tax – Gen.
Litigation Tax –
Special Purpose
Ligitation Tax – Jail,
Work, Court
Business Tax
$13 Wheel tax moved
to schools
Statutory Local Taxes
Cost Drivers:
Expenses that
reoccur and are
increasing at a
rate that equals
or out-paces
inflation.
Certainly
identified as
items that outpace our ability
to generate
revenue. These
cost drivers are
similar for
Hamblen County
Government as
well as the
Board of
Education.
Cost Driver
Examples:
„Salary
Increases
„Health
Insurance
„Liability
Insurance
„Workers
Compensation
„Retirement
Rate
$4 Wheel tax moved
back from schools
Bank Excise Tax
Wholesale Beer Tax
Interstate Telecommunications
Tax
$0
$28,622
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$5686
$5596
$6000
Local Tax Total
$5,107,977
$5,566,995
$5,012,296
$5,698,502
$6,297,714
$6,356,432
*This information is about local revenue and expenditures only. It excludes state and federal funding. This is about US!
„Utilities
12 CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Na tional Compar ison
How Hamblen County school system compares to similar school systems across the nation. Here’s how HCSS compares in Revenue Per Student
for 12 peer groups according to the National Center for Education Statistics (School Matters)
Revenue Spending Per Student
School Year (2001-2002)
District Name, State
Talladega County School District, AL (grades KG-12)
Columbia County School District, FL (grades PK-12)
Garden City, KS (grades PK-12)
Carteret County Public Schools, NC (grades PK-12)
Cleveland County Schools, NC (grades PK-12)
Haywood County Schools, NC (grades PK-12)
Lee County Schools, NC (grades PK-12)
Kingston City Sd, NY (grades PK-12)
Chesterfield County School District, SC (grades PK-12)
Greenwood 50 County School District, SC (grades PK-12)
Hamblen County School District, TN (grades PK-12)
Putnam County School District, TN (grades PK-12)
Total
Revenue
$6,777
$6,512
$7,884
$8,781
$7,009
$7,726
$6,884
$11,650
$7,545
$7,396
$6,106
$5,702
Federal
$788
$805
$892
$613
$510
$616
$640
$610
$662
$590
$527
$583
Local
$1,621
$1,542
$2,228
$3,573
$1,938
$2,125
$1,875
$5,758
$2,410
$2,638
$2,904
$2,469
State
$4,368
$4,164
$4,704
$4,596
$4,985
$4,985
$4,369
$5,282
$4,474
$4,167
$2,675
$2,651
Peer Averages
$7,498
$653
$2,595
$4,250
Expenditure Spending Per Student
Total Current
Expend.
Instruct
Expend.
Student
& Staff
Support
Admin
Operations
Food/Service/Oth
Talladega County School District, AL (grades KG-12)
Columbia County School District, FL (grades PK-12)
Garden City, KS (grades Pk-12)
Carteret County Public Schools, NC (grades Pk-12)
Cleveland County Schools, NC (grades PK-12)
Haywood County Schools, NC (grades Pk-12)
Lee County Schools, NC (grades Pk-12)
Kingston City Sd, NY (grades Pk-12)
Chesterfied County School District, SC (grades Pk-12)
Greenwood 50 County S. D., SC (grades Pl-12)
Hamblen County School District, TN (grades Pk-12)
Putnam County School District, TN (grades Pk-12)
$5,898
$5,952
$7,021
$7,559
$6,126
$6,715
$6,136
$10,949
$6,362
$6,373
$5,719
$5,276
$3252
$3,456
$3,709
$4,894
$4,041
$4,199
$3,998
$7,778
$3,846
$4,034
$3,993
$3,401
$671
$674
$947
$605
$585
$622
$572
$731
$875
$786
$169
$437
$666
$576
$710
$797
$580
$738
$595
$822
$607
$536
$598
$471
$1,309
$1,246
$1,655
$1,262
$921
$1,156
$971
$1,617
$1,034
$1,018
$960
$967
Peer Averages
$6,674
$4,217
$640
$641
$1,176
The total Hamblen County school budget for 2004-2005 was $62,042,249. This is a great deal of money and we all want to know how it is spent
and how it impacts our students in the classroom.
Oper a tions: Ho w the Mone y is Spent
The Annual Budget can be broken into per pupil expenditure by dividing the total budget $62,042,249 by the total number of students. What you
need is the number of students and that is not so easy. The number of students in the school system fluctuates throughout the school year, so the state
counts students at certain times of the year to provide an enrollment number, attendance number and a membership number. Also, the number of students of need may be greater at one school than another. That is one child may require services than others. Remember the federal government specifies that certain monies be used for students of special need.
Indi vidual Sc hool Funding
Individual schools are not funded. The system as a whole is funded and the monies are targeted toward the needs of the schools based on population, special needs of students, maintenance of facilities, and staff number and experience. Many factors contribute to how much money an individual school receives.
CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005 13
Ca pital-Upk ee p and Gr o wth
Staff Funding
Hamblen County School System is the county’s 3rd largest employer, with 1,151 employees as of 2004.
691 of the 1,151 2004-2005 employees are teachers. The remaining are administrators, guidance counselors, librarians, teachers' aides, bus drivers and other
support staff.
The average HCSS teacher salary was $37,284 in 2003-2004. In addition to salaries, HCSS provides benefits that include family health insurance, life insurance for employees, state retirement, social security and Medicare, three comp days and 2 personnal days. An estimated value of this benefit package based on
the average teacher salary was $12,567 in 2003-2004.The base salary of an individual teachers' salary is determined by the Tennessee salary schedule. Teachers
earn more as they gain experience and credentials like masters' degrees and doctorates. 79.9% of Hamblen County teachers are designated as "Highly Qualified".
HCSS Teacher Salary Facts 2003-2004
Minimum Salary
Average Salary
Master's Degree Maximum Salary
Years of Experience
Less than 1
1-3
4-8
9-15
16-20
21 or more
$27,625
$37,284
$40,935
*Minimum salary generally reflects a new teacher’s starting salary. These are Minimum,
Average, and Master Degrees’ Maximum salaries for 2003-2004.
#of teachers
27
71
128
139
63
210
Area Salary Averages
District
Oak Ridge
Maryville City
Greeneville City
Jackson/Madison
Blount County
Sevier County
Loudon County
Newport City
Putnam County
Hamblen County
Jefferson County
Hawkins County
Highest Degree Earned
Bachelor
Master
EDS
Doctorate
National Board Certification
Salary
$52,078.15
$50,325.09
$44,565.10
$43,020.09
$42,280.00
$41,005.12
$40,365.06
$40,170.51
$39,475.61
$38,484.11
$37,899.10
$37,678.28
# of Teachers with
282
317
37
2
6
State Ranking
1
2
14
18
21
29
35
37
43
48
60
72
HCDOE Teacher Salaries
There is a fairly significant variation between HCDOE
beginning salaries and the statewide average for beginning
salaries. However, as teachers gain years of experience and
move up the scale, the variation becomes smaller. HCDOE
ranking statewide improves significantly from the beginning
salaries to the salaries of teachers with 15 years experience.
$50,000
$40,000
$39,649
$39,210
$31,198
$30,255
$36,370
$28,744
$10,000
$27,265
$20,000
Average salary is not a good way to benchmark. Salary
schedule would be better (see graph below for ranking).
Principal salary average ranks 59.
$36,185
$30,000
$0
Bach/0
HCDOE STATEWIDE RANKINGS
HC Teacher Salaries
No experience
Bach/15
Masters/0
Masters/15
15 years Experience +
Bachelor’s Degree
117
52
Master’s Degree
103
54
Source: TEA Tennessee Profile
Majority of employees- Hamblen County’s average
is higher because 210 teachers have 21 years or more of
teaching experience.
14 CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Tr anspor ta tion
Operating Budget
On the average 5,000 of 9,600 HCSS students ride our school buses each day. Approximately 1700 miles a day are navigated by Hamblen County
school buses during an average school year (176 days).
HCSS Transportation Facts
Miles traveled last year
Number of active school buses
Number of students transported daily
Cost per mile*
Average cost of a school bus
Average life of a school bus - Transit - Conventional
299,200 Miles
47
5,000
20 cents
$69,000
15 yrs.Transit 12 yrs. Conventional
*2004-2005
Food Ser vice
Operating Budget
The Hamblen County Food Services serve about 2,347 breakfasts and 7,268 lunches daily to our students and educators. That is over 1.6 million
meals per school year. In addition to breakfast and lunches, our school food services staff caters special school events and provides snacks for afterschool programs.
"HCSS School Nutrition program strives to follow the Dietary GuideLines for Americans for school menus in the areas of fat, sodium and total
calorie content. Our greatest challenge is to meet three parameters; provide meals that are healthy, that are student friendly and that are cost effective."
The school nutrition program is self-supporting through meal prices and U.S.D.A. reimbursement.(reimbursement is for free and reduced paid
students.)
The Hamblen County School nutrition staff includes a registered dietician, administrative support staff, and cafeteria managers and cooks - 133
employees in all. Serving food at each of the district’s 19 schools requires a lot of equipment and planning resources.
HCSS Food Facts:
Meals served daily
Meals served per school year
Child Nutrition employees
9,615
1,663,395
133
Student Meal Cost
Breakfast $1.20
Lunch (K-5) $1.75 (6-12)
$2.00
“The School Nutrition Program is committed to helping students develop healthy lifelong eating habits. For example, most school cafeterias offer
salad bars to encourage students to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Few foods are fried, and desserts are limited to once or twice a week. Foods
that are sold as a la carte items for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade will also take on a healthier look as Hamblen County implements the new
Tennessee School Nutrition/Vending Law by the Fall of 2006.”
Tec hnolo g y Oper a ting Budg et
Hamblen County must make technology investments yearly to ensure that our students stay competitive. Technology monies are spent on the following:
Computer and software upgrades, Internet access and firewalls, cables for computer hook-ups, electrical wiring, computer training classes for staff
and teachers, computer desks, chairs etc., maintenance of computers
Operating budget monies from the annual budget go for the creating technology infrastructure: network cabling, electrical wiring, new workstations
in new schools and renovated classrooms, training, maintaining and replacing older computers in existing classrooms.
Tennessee was the first state to have all classrooms connected to the Internet through the Connect 10 program. There is a far greater need today for
technology equipment and knowledge than there was even five years ago. It is difficult to keep up, but if Hamblen County is going to be a contender
in the future, it must invest in keeping our children abreast of the latest technologies and skills.
Today's research shows that students who use computers outrank their peers by double-digit percentages. See resources for further information.
Hamblen County school facilities cover 1.5 million square feet or 400 acres - over 6 times the size of College Square Mall with a maintenance staff
Maintenance Oper a ting Budg et
including 1 supervisor, 1 support staff and 50 maintenance personnel.
Keeping that many areas clean for our students and staff is a major commitment of time, effort and personnel. Maintenance responsibilities include
carpentry, painting, heating and air conditioning, pest control, mechanics, and welding. Maintenance employees keep more than 21 buildings clean and
operating. Building Services completed over 4,500 work orders last year. As with any home or office building, costs depend not only on the size and
number of facilities, but also on their age. The average age of HCSS school building is 25 years.
CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005 15
F inancial Planning for the Futur e
Major Hamblen County School Facility Concerns:
Air Quality
Traffic Flow/Parking
Roof Maintenance
Decreasing Teacher Ratio to Increasing Student Population
Curriculum Offerings
T
oday’s world brings with it more than just technology. It also
demands health requirements, safety and security measures,
and air quality standards that were not thought of ten years ago. The
federal government, state government, and local government demand
that school systems meet the needs of all school age children no matter the complexities. Health issues can affect student learning. This has
been proven in studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Education.
These standards are designed to produce schools equipped for all
required curriculum needs. They address areas like capacity; space
usage; and federal, state, and local requirements. In 2004-05, the state
funded capital outlay at $78.00 per square foot at the K-4 grade level,
$85.00 per square foot at the 5-8-grade level, and $81.00 per square at
the 9-12 grade level. The average daily membership at the K-4, 5-8,
and 9-12 grade levels determine the square footage funded for each
school system.
Many K-8 HCSS classrooms are sufficient for students but lacking
teachers. Student numbers have increased while teaching staff have
remained the same. In the 2004-2005 school year, HCSS had two high
schools with a student population greater than 1,325 at each school.
The 2005-2006-student projection for Hamblen County High Schools
is approximately 2,800 students. This is at capacity for the facilities
now in use. Therefore, there is a great need to move forward with the
Phase III facility study.
HCSS will begin to develop a Phase III facilities study this year to
Tennessee has established baseline educational standards to ensure
address
Capital Fund needs for a growing school population.
that all students have access to a clean, safe, and healthy environment.
Inv estment Retur n - W ha t We Get for Our Mone y!
Quality of Life -That is the core of a healthy economy. What does that mean? It means an education system that produces a qualified and innovative workforce, leaders with
vision; and local graduates who want to live, create jobs, rear children and build a future in Hamblen County. Education is the cornerstone of a productive economy.
The Hamblen County School System is making positive gains each year. Math and reading scores are increasing and the gap is decreasing for students of need and with special
circumstances.
Hamblen County now ranks 20th in the state ACT scores with an average of 20.7 and rising.
Hamblen County ranked 15th of 136 school systems in Gateway Performance in Tennessee (Hamblen County scored 17% higher than the state average in Gateway Math).
90% of HCSS students earn a high school degree. This graduation percentage ranks 9th out of 136 systems in Tennessee.
More Hamblen County high school students are taking college-level Advanced Placement courses. The graduating class of 2004-2005 received $6 million in academic
and athletic scholarships.
Resour ces
Want to learn more about the issues?
Try these representatives and
organizations.
Dr. Dale Lynch
Director of Schools
Hamblen County Department
of Education
210 East Morris Blvd.
Morristown, TN 37813
Ph: (423) 586-7700
Board of Education
Gary Chesney
1316 Forest Drive
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 586-1047/ 581-8881
Joe Gibson, Jr.
P.O. Box 338
Morristown, TN 37815
Ph: (423) 587-2919/581-4545
Roger Greene
5020 Woodbine Drive
Morristown, TN 37813
Ph: (423) 581-1340/586-1100
James Grigsby
921 Foxglove Lane
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 587-0709/586-3162
Janice Haun
1656 Warrenburg Road
Whitesburg, TN 37891
Ph: (423) 581- 3451/586-3322
Carolyn S. Holt, Chairman
1965 Macedonia Road
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 587-3631/581-1358
Ralph Livesay
1118 Keith Lane
Morristown Tn, 37814
Ph: (423) 586-0001
District 6
Joe Spoone, Chairman
1750 Timberscrest
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 318-1499
Hamblen County
Commissioners
District 1
Edwin P. Osborne
1514 Johnson Drive
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 312-9111
E-mail [email protected]
District 7
Dennis Alvis
2265 Warren Drive
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 581-7055/312-7113
Email [email protected]
District 2
Nancy Phillips
315 East 2nd North Street
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 317-7449
Email: [email protected]
District 3
Tom Lowe
842 Spruce Street
Morristown, TN 37813
Ph: (423) 586-9564
Email [email protected]
District 4
Bobby Reinhardt
245 Vineyard Road
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 586-1797
District 5
Maudie Briggs
P.O. Box 280
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 581-4250/587-2814
Email
[email protected]
District 8
Ricky Bruce
421 Ashland Oaks Drive
Morristown, TN 37813
Ph: (423) 581-6354
Email [email protected]
District 9
Larry D. Baker
635 Three Springs Road
Russellville, TN 37860
Ph: (423) 586-6191
District 10
Herbert Harville
845 Spencer Hale Road
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 581-8986
District 11
Guy Collins
825 Guy Collins Road
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 586-7176
District 12
Doyle Fullington
1775 Seven Oaks Drive
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 587-0385/581-9480
Email
[email protected]
District 13
Donald Gray
1265 Lakeshore Road
Talbott, TN 37877
Ph: (423) 586-2587
District 14
Linda Noe
2343 Joe Stephens Road
Morristown, TN 37814
Ph: (423) 586-9246
Email [email protected]
Hamblen County State
Representative
John Litz
2100 Valley Home Rd.
Morristown, TN 37813
Ph: (423) 586-8117
Hamblen County State Senator
Steve Southerland
318 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243-0201
Ph: (800) 449-8366 ext 13851
Ph: (423) 581-6202
Fax: (615) 741-7200
Email: [email protected]
Citizen Tribune
1609 W. First North Street
P.O. Box 625
Morristown, TN 37815
Ph (423) 581-5630
Fax: (423) 581-3061
Tennessee Department of Education
Lana C. Seivers
Commissioner of Education
Andrew Johnson Tower - 6th Floor
Nashville, TN 37243-0375
(615) 741-2731
www.state.tn.us/Education/
HCEA (Hamblen County
Education Association)
210 E. Morris Blvd
Morristown, TN 37813
Amy Cannon, President
[email protected]
Office of the County Trustee
511 West 2nd North St.
Morristown, TN 37814
[email protected]
Office of the County Mayor
Finance Department
511 West 2nd North St.
Morristown, TN 37814
[email protected]
HC*EXCELL
P.O. Box 2156
Morristown, TN 37816-2156
[email protected]/ www.hcexcell.org
‘The Condition of Education 2005’
For the latest information about education in 2005 go to;
www.nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/
Fast Response Survey System, Internet
Access in U. S. Public Schools and Classrooms: 1994-2000 - NCES
16 CITIZEN TRIBUNE, Wednesday, July 6, 2005
TAKE ACTION!
World economic conditions have shifted making an educated citizenry a necessity to compete in today's global society. For
Hamblen County to be a contender tomorrow we must invest today in our future workforce. This workforce needs to be
knowledge-based. Therefore, we need to make sure that our students have the type of education that will keep and bring jobs
of quality to our community. Jobs of quality are jobs that pay well, have good benefits and working conditions; these jobs offer
a person the ability to be part of a growing economy. A community of quality not only offers its residents skilled jobs, but safety, recreation, and an environment friendly atmosphere - a place you want to call home. Use your voice and presence to make
changes for improvement rather than just complaining.
Editors and producers get many
letters. The more feedback they receive
about a news story or issue, the more
viewpoints will be valued. You do not
have to be an expert to express your
opinion. Each media form has a
method by which they prefer to be
contacted. Listen and look for that
information.
How can you make a difference or
get involved.
· First seek out information - learn
about your community and its education system
· Talk with your educators - find
out what happening in your school system
· Speak with government officials they make the decision: make sure you
know if they understand what is at
stake.
· Vote! Remember it is your community and you are responsible for our
future
· Talk with your neighbors and
friends - not just to complain but discuss how you can make Hamblen
County a better place to live
Media Input and Feedback
We all know the media affects our
perception and understanding of the
issues. Providing input both positive
and negative to our media is everyone's
responsibility. You can send a letter, email, or fax to the newspaper editor,
radio or TV producer that expresses
your point of view, corrects information, asks for information, applauds
information or suggest educational
topics of interest. Read articles on education in the media, watch and listen to
TV and radio show on education. Most
media will only use your name and
hometown not your address or phone
number when publishing your
remarks.
When and how to communicate
with officials and the media
Observe how the education system
is portrayed in the media, where it is
mentioned and how often it is mentioned. Not only is it the backbone of a
healthy community, it is also where
your tax dollars are going. Note cartoons, advertising and how education
is depicted in these media forms - are
the characterizations positive or negative. If you contact your media for a
negative reason be sure and find something positive to say also.
Tips on communicating with the
media
· Be polite and respectful - Do not
make personal attacks
· Be short and to the point between
200-300 words
· Clearly define your point of information or question
· Correct, inform or enlighten
· Concentrate on one point per letter
· Include your name, address and
phone number for credibility and contact information in case there is a question
· Include any credentials you may
have that shows why you have knowledge such as teacher, employer etc.
· Whether e-mailing, writing or
faxing a response include Letter to the
Editor in the heading
· If you are responding to a particular article or show state the article or
show title and include the date
Sample letter to an editor or producer may look like this:
To the Editor/Producer:
A short and to the point description
of the issue you wish to discuss and/or
a resolution to the problem.
Your name
your address
phone number/email address
Hamblen
County
School Board normally
meets at 7:00 pm the 3rd
Monday of the month at
the Board of Education 210 East Morris Blvd
Hamblen
County
Commission normally
meets the Thursday
after the 3rd Monday at
5:00pm in the large
upstairs courtroom at
the County Courthouse
Ac kno wledg ements
HC*EXCELL and the
Hamblen County P-16
Council would like to
acknowledge the following
individuals and organizations for providing information contained in this
2004-2005
Hamblen
County Education Budget
Report and for assisting in
the report development.
Charlotte Advocates
for Education
Two Wachovia Center
301 S. Tryon Street
Ste 1725
Charlotte, NC 28282
Cheryl Pulliam
Margaret Carnes
Ricky Bruce
Hamblen County
Commissioner
David Purkey
Hamblen County
Mayor
Bill Brittain
Hamblen County
Trustee
Dr. Dale Lynch
Director Hamblen
County School
System
Hamblen County
School System
Department Heads
Hamblen County
Adult Education
Anna James
American Council on
Education
National Literacy Act
Tennessee County
Profiles - Center for
Literacy Studies
SERVE
Tennessee KIDS
COUNT
Douglas Cherokee
Head Start
Janice Wilder
Citizen Tribune
The Tennessee Advisory Commission on
Intergovernmental Relations
Signpost - Spring
Issue
Governor's Books to
Birth Foundation
U.S. Census 2000
Tennessee Statistical
Information Guide
College Square Mall
Web resources
The Educational Trust
www.edtrust.org
Tennessee Tomorrow
www.tntommorrow.org
Education Commission of the
States
www.ecs.org
Tennessee Board of Regents
www.tbr.state.tn.us
No Child Left Behind
www.ed.gov/nclb
Teaching Quality
www.teachingquality.org
Mid-East Regional P-16
Council
www.ws.edu/p16
National Education
Association
www.nea.org
Tennessee Education
Association
www.tnea.org
National Center for
Education Statistics
www.nces.ed.gov/programs/coe
CensusScope - Education
Statistics
www.censusscope.org
TN: Education: Annual Statistics Report
www.k-12.state.tn.us
Morristown Area Chamber of
Commerce
www.morristownchamber.com
Education Week
www.edweek.org
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
www.nbpts.org
School Matters
www.schoolmatters.com
School Match
www.schoolmatch.com
Columbia Group
www.columbiagroup.org
Tennessee Department of
Education
www.state.tn.us/education
Hamblen County Department
of Education
www.hcboe.net