On Tuesday, March 10, School Superintendent James Browder detailed the grave financial condition facing our District, a condition which threatens the caliber of education we provide our children.

A combination of state budget reductions, over-building of schools, a $53 million per year bond payment, a district investment plan that involves millions of tax dollars in the State SBA program which is facing serious fiscal issues, and declining enrollment, has turned this year into the perfect fiscal storm.

Unfortunately, district employees will lose their jobs and services will be cut as these are the only short-term solutions available to us under state mandate that requires a balanced budget.  

As I see it, we must prevent or diminish any further damage to the classroom.

We must also not take the easy way out by simply firing staff and burdening taxpayers with future tax increases. Facing these challenges head-on gives the board an opportunity to turn a negative situation into one of positive change to improve our lack luster academic performance and spending of tax dollars.

The board must look at every available option and solicit public opinion to help us chart our future course of action. I list here a series of options to encourage public debate to ensure that your elected board makes sound policy decisions that protect our students.

n Should the district perform a study of Central Services using a professional independent firm to look for waste and operating inefficiencies?

n Should the School Board review the current school choice program for effectiveness and consider a possible return to a neighborhood school concept?  The district currently spends approximately $49 million a year for transportation in support of this program.

n  Should the board study possible cost reductions available through the privatizing of Information Technology and construction support services?  We currently spend almost $37 million a year for these services.

n Should the board study the possibility of senior central management personnel taking pay reductions including the superintendent and board members before cutting employees?

n  Should the board study individual school enrollment with a view toward consolidating schools that are underutilized?

n  Should the board study the conversion of empty and wasted space in the $51 million new Education Center to open a new school or rent out the 33,000 square feet of empty space to private concerns for revenue generation?

n Should the board study converting some public schools to Charter schools (Charter conversion provision) as a possible cost reduction measure?

I am sure that some of the options listed above will be strongly opposed by various special interest groups and I encourage them to come up with positive alternatives.  I also invite the public to make any other relevant suggestions either by calling or emailing board members.

The most important remedy, however, is improving the fiscal management of the School District with increased and improved oversight of taxpayer money while never losing sight of the need to protect our academic programs.

In this regard I strongly support implementation of the recommendations submitted by Julie Nieminski, previous board auditor, in her final audit of the District’s operations. 

I look forward to your input and to work together as a community to save the education of our children.

— Robert D. Chilmonik represents School Board District 1, which includes

Cape Coral.