Reso 2008-1240 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Superintendent of Schools Rudolph F Crew, Ed.D. February 20, 2008 Miami-Dade County School Board Agustin J. Barrera, Chair Perla Tabares Hantman, Vice Chair Renier Diaz de la Portilla Evelyn Langlieb Greer fJr. Wilbert "Tee" Holloway Dr. Martin Karp Ana Rivas Logan Dr. Marta Perez Dif Solomon C. Stinson The Honorable Norman S. Edelcup City of Sunny Isles Beach 18070 Collins Avenue Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 Dear Mayor Edelcup: As the 2008 legislative session quickly approaches, we are reaching out to our stakeholders for support of the legislative priorities of The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Unfortunately, overthe past several years, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has been adversely impacted by legislative funding policies exporting sorely needed state dollars to other school districts throughout the state. The District Cost Differential (DCD) policy alone has resulted in a net reduction of $212 million in state funding to the local District budget. Other factors such as declining enrollment and the state's economic slowdown has netted a reduction in overall funding to the District of approximately$129 million, leaving the District with limited resources to deal with escalating operating costs, implementing new educational programs, and providing teacher salary increases. We are requesting a base budget increase that keeps pace with inflation, moves Florida towards the United States average per pupil, and allows for competitive salaries to our teachers is paramount if we are to continue the successes of the last few years. I can proudly state that the student achievement is increasing in Miami-Dade County with the greatest increases in our lowest performing schools. The majority of the District's students are now scoring at the higher achievement levels on the FCA T SSS Reading at grades 4 through 7 and the percent of students scoring at grade level or above have increased at three of the seven grade levels. On FCA T SSS Mathematics,.the majority of students are now scoring at the higher achievement levels in grades 3-5 2nd 7-10. Here toa,'a~ in8re2sing I1u!i!ber of students scoring at grade I.e'je! cr a~c'.'e. Last year science was tested for the first time and presented a challenge for many of our students causing an increase in the number of "F" schools. We have addressed our students' science needs as we addressed reading, writing and math, and we are confident that the results achieved in student achievement will exceed expectations. If we are to tackle the four critical priorities targeted by our Board - eliminating low performing schools; raising academic student achievement for all students; reforming business practices to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and high ethical standards; and recruiting, developing, and retaining high performing, diverse, and motivated faculty and staff while developing our students for a global economy - it requires funding. We understand that the Florida Legislature ana the residents of Miami-Dade County deserve a return on their investment. Page 1 of 2 School Board Administration Building. 1450 N.E. 2nd Avenue. Miami, Florida 33132 305-995-1000. www.dadeschools.net