Day: 29 Jan 2017

HCPSS Student Enrollment Numbers and Trend Over 5 Years

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2017 HCPSS Enrollment Trend P1.JPG

2017-hcpss-enrollment-trend-p2

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With an increased number of students, less students buy lunch at regular price and more students buy lunch at a reduced price.

  1. My first impression is that the lunch is not good and students do not like it. This number could not cheat, right?
  2. My second impression is that we have more and more poor families now. How can we ensure those kids get the right education?

I have been hearing from parents who are complaining the lunch quality over years.  However, when I see the awards HCPSS is receiving for their great lunch program, I am not sure what I should say.

Possible 2018 HCPSS funding crisis

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Some parents sent me emails about canceled programs at our public school. While I am sitting at the HCPSS 2018 Operating Budget Review Committee, I feel there is a school funding crisis coming soon. The approved budget from the county for FY 2017 is 562 millions,  however, the proposed FY 2018 request from the county is 622 millions, which is  10.7% increase, a total of 60 million dollars.

I heard the county government will not be able to fund all 60 million extra dollars over FY 2017, probably at most 7-8 million dollars(hope I am wrong here !). Maybe the zero-based budgeting process should be revisited. Or more programs will but cut, the class size keeps growing, etc.

What is a good budget process and reasonable spending growth? I would like to hear your comments. Or it is how it works: you ask for a huge number and expect you will not get all.