Orange County public school officials confirmed Friday, there will be an increase in the per-student funding in the upcoming school year, once Gov. Rick Scott signs the new budget into law, but a large portion of it will be spent on teacher compensation and retirement benefits.
While the per-student funding will increase to $7,121.40 from the previous year’s per student figure of $6,798.73, about 86 percent of the $323 increase will be gobbled up by hikes in teacher compensation, benefits and retirement. A spokesperson from OPCS said, the remaining $46 per-student funding will be invested in safety measures, technology, professional development and summer hours for high school guidance counselors.
Perhaps one bright spot in the proposed new budget is the planned creation of a Minority Achievement Office, whose over-riding mandate would be to focus with intensity on narrowing the minority achievement gap in reading, mathematics and writing. The new Office will be headed by James Lawson, a long-time educator and administrator who currently serves as superintendent of the Southeast Learning Community.
“Under Dr. Lawson, the Minority Achievement Office will increase our sense of urgency to narrow the achievement gaps for Blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities with extensive strategies, said OCPS Superintendent Barbara Jenkins, in a statement. “This concentrated focus will significantly increase the performance levels for the district and accelerate our vision to be the top producer of successful students in the nation.”
The 3-4 person Minority Achievement Office, set to become operational on July 1, will not be funded from new monies, but instead a redeployment of personnel and financial resources, OCPS said.
