News Release
August 10, 2005
Superintendent Bennet Announces Hiring And Spending Freeze For Central Administrative Offices
Superintendent Michael Bennet today announced a series of controls on all district-level hiring and spending.
"In a world of limited resources, we need to ensure that every dollar is spent in the service of student achievement," said Superintendent Bennet.
The controls apply only to department and area office budgets. School-based budgets and spending are not affected.
The controls require that central office departments freeze all hiring, travel and purchasing above $3,000 for the 2005-2006 school year. The freeze affects all new consultant contracts, future travel and the purchase (in excess of $3,000) of all furniture, computers and other equipment.
The hiring freeze impacts all central administration positions. Again, school positions are not affected.
A process that allows for exemptions to the spending and hiring freezes also was established. A hiring exemption must be secured even for positions currently being filled (as long as no job offer has yet been extended). Spending exemptions will be reviewed by the Budget Office and decided by Richard Allen, Assistant Superintendent for Budget and Finance.
"As we move forward with developing a strategic plan, it makes sense to be extremely cautious with our central administration spending in order to maximize the financial resources available to us once the plan is finished," said Superintendent Bennet.
In addition to announcing the new restrictions on spending and hiring, Superintendent Bennet urged all district staff to ensure that Denver Public Schools embraces an ethic of customer service for all parents, students and the community as a whole.
"Although there are a number of reasons for these tight budgets, one of the most fundamental is flat enrollment trends, following a decade of rapid expansion. We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to make the entire Denver Public Schools experience engaging, open, friendly and accessible. Increasing enrollment is critical to the financial health of the district, because it is the only way we can increase our revenue," Superintendent Bennet said in his memo to all department heads.
For every dollar in the Denver Public Schools budget, 7.5 cents is spent on district leadership and support, which includes central administration. While the vast majority of district resources already is spent directly in schools, Superintendent Bennet said it's important to be show extreme care with the dollars not being spent in the classroom.
The general fund budget for the 2005-2006 school year, approved by the Board of Education in June, is $583.1 million.
The current budget reflects a reduction in central office departments by over 7 percent from 2004-2005 and includes a reduction in work year by three days for employees other than teachers and certain other workers.
The adopted budget is posted on the district's website at budgetandfinance.dpsk12.org.
The district's Budget Office has published a "Community Guide to Understanding the DPS Budget," which is also available on the budget office website.
For more information, contact the DPS Communications Office at 720-423-3414.