The Shelby County School Board will hold a Budget Hearing Thursday, May 7, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the District’s proposed 2020-21 school year budget and allow public input.

Public comments can be emailed to [email protected] from 12 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. The general public can tune into the live broadcast of the Budget Hearing through the following District channels:

• 88.5FM
• SCS School Board Website: www.scsk12.org/board
• C19TV (via Comcast Cable)
• www.VoiceofSCS.com
• Facebook: Shelby County Schools & Voice of SCS
• Twitter: @scsk12unified & @voiceofscs

NOTE: Only comments submitted during designated time period avove will be read during the hearing. All other input submitted via email and phone April 29 – May 6 has been collected by the SCS Department of Finance and will be summarized for the Board during the hearing. 

Despite the unique and unprecedented challenges we are facing with the current COVID-19 pandemic, we remain committed to supporting our schools now and in the future. This includes presenting a balanced general fund budget with significant investments in four key areas to strengthen outcomes for students: school & classrom supports, social & emotional support, early learning and academic transformation & innovation.

During a Budget & Finance Committee Meeting in March, Board members were informed of preliminary budget plans for next year. To allow for the instructional and student support investments, initial plans include approximately $27 million in savings at the Central Office and related operations. Some of those efficiencies include eliminating non-mission-critical spending, reducing the amount of contracted services and eliminating vacant positions. 

2020-21 BUDGET PRIORITIES:

School & Classroom Supports

• School Staffing Allocations above Baseline ($14.5M)
• Compensation/Teachers ($6M)
• National Board Stipends ($1.1M)
• Curriculum/Textbooks ($14M)

Social & Emotional Support

• Social Workers & Behavioral Specialists ($6.8M)
• Reset Rooms & Behavioral Support in Middle/High Schools ($3.8M)

Early Learning

• Pre-K ($45.9M)  
• Senior Reading Advisors ($1.7M) 
• Literacy Laureates ($283k)
• Paraprofessionals ($364K)
• Early Literacy Team ($394K)
• Illuminate Platform ($473K)  

Academic Transformation & Innovation

• iZone, Empowerment Zone & Continuous Improvement Zone ($8.9M)
• College, Career & Technical Education – CCTE ($19.5M) 
• C.L.U.E. ($9M)