I am writing this letter both as a taxpayer and a recently retired Fayette County teacher.
I was astonished to see the proposed Oct. 1, 2015 Organizational Chart of the Fayette County Schools (FCS) Central Office staff with a total of 16 coordinators and 10 directors.
Not very long ago, prior to Whitewater High School opening and the new Fayette County School being built and occupied, the FCS Central Office was almost totally housed in the 210 Stonewall Avenue building.
Now, after adding really only one school, Whitewater High School, it additionally occupies the Lafayette Education Center (the old FCHS) and the old East Elementary School.
According to the FCS Fact sheet, we now have 24 schools, one high school added. Several schools have closed as newly built schools have opened.
It has been repeatedly reported in The Citizen that FCS have gone from an enrollment of 22,367 student enrollment in the 2006-2007 school year (SY) to approximately 20,000 student enrollment in the 2015-2016 SY.
There has also been concern expressed by multiple parties about the school tax increase for 2016. The increase was stated to be due to increased budgetary requirements, one singled out being 51.5 classroom teachers being added.
I believe this was blown out of proportion when you examine the overall payroll growth for 2015-2016.
In perspective, 118 positions were added to the payroll for this school year. This does not include the numerous changes of job descriptions resulting in promotions for some. The budget added 17 non-secretarial staff positions to the central office as compared to 51.5 classroom teachers for 24 schools. That is a ratio of one central office staff member added for every three classroom teachers added.
Some readers may remember the front page AJC article, July 21, 2013, “AJC Investigation: School Spending” reported by Mark Niesse. In it he compared the number of administrators (excluding principals and assistant principals) per 1000 students.
Atlanta Public Schools (APS) was the highest at 16.7 per 1,000 with Forsyth County Schools the lowest at 3.5 per 1,000. Of the metro area systems listed, Fayette County schools and Clayton County schools were tied for second with 8.6 per 1,000.
I realize that these numbers were calculated based on 2012 data, but how does Fayette compare today? Better yet, how does the growth of the central office staff (non-secretarial) compare with the classroom teacher growth (excluding guidance staff, media center staff and paraprofessionals) from the height of student enrollment in 2006-2007 SY to today, 2015-2016 SY?
Mike De Lisle
Fayetteville, Ga.
