Richardson says sports, air-conditioning possible targets because of lack of funds

CHARLES J. DEAN News staff writer Birmingham News

02/13/03

MONTGOMERY No classroom air-conditioning in August and cutbacks in high school sports, band and other school-sponsored activities will soon be recommended for Alabama's public schools, state Superintendent Ed Richardson said Wednesday.

Richardson said those "extreme" steps are necessary to cope with lack of money for education.

Asked whether high school football would be included, Richardson said his recommendations would cover most athletic activities and other school-sponsored events.

In addition, Richardson said all but the state's wealthier systems will need to consider reducing or eliminating high school course offerings beyond the core subjects of math, science, language and social studies.

Electives such as drama, psychology, art and many others may have to be eliminated as schools grapple with what Richardson predicted will be a $200 million cut in education money in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

"I don't want to sound like Chicken Little, but we are talking about serious things, taking serious steps," Richardson said. "We predict the '04 school year will be the worst financial year for schools in my career." He has been in education for 35 years.

To deal with that predicted $200 million loss, school systems beginning in April and May will have to slash payroll, primarily by terminating jobs and not filling others, he said. In all, he predicted, 2,000 teachers, janitors, bus drivers, counselors, librarians and lunchroom workers will lose their jobs.

"And most of them will not be hired back," Richardson said.

Richardson and members of his staff appeared before state lawmakers Wednesday during annual budget hearings. He submitted a proposed education budget for the 2003-04 school year that would spend $3.1 billion on teacher training, textbooks, supplies, materials and improved school technology. It's a budget that likely will not come close to being realized because of the money shortage, Richardson and lawmakers acknowledged Wednesday.

Next year's predicted $200 million shortfall will follow what is expected to be about a $250 million shortfall this year. However, school cuts will be avoided this year because of the so-called "rainy day" fund which voters approved two years ago, setting up a savings account with $250 million in it. It is one-time money and when it's gone, it's gone. Richardson predicted most of it will be gone by Oct. 1.

In all, 71 of the state's 128 systems will spend more money than they generate in various taxes during the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. Included in that list are the county systems of Blount, St. Clair and Shelby. City systems include Birmingham, Fairfield, Jasper, Midfield and Mountain Brook. Virtually all systems will have to eat up reserves to avoid red ink.

Richardson warned lawmakers that class sizes generally will grow four to six students a class, because schools will have no choice but to lay off teachers, counselors, librarians and others. Also, he warned that many schools will face loss of accreditation because of larger class sizes and reduced class offerings. A loss of accreditation would hurt the ability of students to get into college and the military since accreditation is a stamp of approval that schools have met high standards.

Most lawmakers pledged they will work to find new sources of money for schools. Richardson said there is simply no way out of the state's financial crisis without additional revenue, and that means tax increases.

Richardson spent relatively little time touting his plan to spend $1.6 billion more a year to make all schools adequate. He only gave token attention to the plan which he and the state school board have spent two years developing. While he called the plan vital to the state's future, he also acknowledged that lawmakers are "up to your knees in alligators" trying to find money just to fund what the state already has.

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