D.C. Public Schools officials told a skeptical D.C. Council Tuesday that they are not giving more money to the central office as they make severe cuts at some District schools. Acting Chancellor Kaya Henderson said the proposed fiscal 2012 schools budget cuts $3.5 million and 66 positions from headquarters, bringing the central office’s price tag to $37.1 million.
“I’m telling you, we have empty cubicles,” Henderson told D.C. Council members who questioned her about shifting titles and positions away from central office and labeling them as “school support.”
Parents and officials have been confused about the schools budget since it was rolled out more than a month late. Both have sought to uncover why some schools were slashed up to 17 percent, whether the budget increased or decreased, and if DCPS was spending more or less on administrative tasks.
Councilwoman Mary Cheh, D-Ward 3, said changes like reclassifying “instructional supervisors” — a central office position — as “master teachers” — a school support position SEmD- made it difficult for her to take Henderson at her word.
Henderson said it would be inappropriate to label someone who spent the majority of their days in schools as “central office.”
But Cheh said, “I’m a little skeptical to have a definite statement that there’s been no increase in central office because I can’t compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.”
Conferring with her chief of staff and chief operating officer, Henderson said the schools budget is increasing by $77 million, but only “in the budget book.” Because more funds became available during fiscal 2011, the actual growth is just $3.7 million, Henderson said — negligible amid rising enrollment and more costly supplies.
She explained that some schools such as Amidon-Bowen Elementary, proposed to be cut $586,601, are taking substantial losses because they were given about $400,000 extra annually to ease the transition when schools were closed and combined in 2008. That additional funding was to last three years, Henderson said.
Councilman Tommy Wells, D-Ward 6, said he was concerned by the financial drop-off to a school still gaining the community’s confidence: “If we have not done anything substantial to transform those schools other than giving them the extra funding, then we’re cutting out on them early.”
The council is scheduled to vote on the city budget May 24, then take a final vote on June 7.
