The Gwinnett County school board Thursday unanimously adopted its $1.7 billion budget, which will lead to slightly larger class sizes next fall.
The district also recognized 51 students splitting $1 million in national Broad Prize scholarship money. The winnings are part of Gwinnett’s recognition as the recipient of the 2010 Broad Prize for Urban Education, presented to systems honored for narrowing achievement gaps between white and minority students.
Under the district's new budget, the general fund, which pays for school operations, will shrink by $38.9 million. At the same time, the student population is expected to grow by 1,700 to 162,450. Revenue per student will drop by more than $500 to $7,358 from $7,904. The district did not consider a tax increase.
“It’s been a challenging budget year,” Gwinnett Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks told the board. “I wish I could tell you that next year will be better. It probably will be just as bad.”
Gwinnett teachers won’t get raises or step increases, but they will receive more pay as furlough days drop to two from three. The average Gwinnett Schools’ teacher, with a master’s degree and 13 years experience, will earn $55,208.
The district balanced its budget with reserve fund money and more than $73 million in cuts. The district saved $47.8 million from 650 positions lost through attrition and retirement. Classrooms could gain at least one more student on average. No teachers will be laid off.
Following budget discussion, the board recognized Broad Prize scholarship winners. Meadowcreek High senior Lemlem Mehari said she was shocked to receive the $20,000. When Mehari moved to Gwinnett from India in 2007, she said she barely spoke English.
“I went from ESOL [English to Speakers of Other Languages classes] to Advanced Placement classes,” she said.
In other business, the board delayed a vote on Ivy Preparatory Academy’s K-12 charter petition.
Ivy Prep was appealing to the district to expand and open a K-12 campus for girls and one for boys. The campus applied for consideration before its authorizer, the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, was overturned by the state Supreme Court in a lawsuit launched by the Gwinnett school board.
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