Efficiency Review Identifies Significant Potential Savings for Spotsylvania County Public Schools
Efficiency Review Identifies Significant Potential Savings for Spotsylvania County Public Schools
Series of efficiency reviews has recommended $9.3 million in total savings to date
Governor Mark R. Warner announced today that a voluntary efficiency review launched as part of his Education for a Lifetime initiative has identified more than $2.5 million in potential savings within the Spotsylvania County Public School Division. Governor Warner also applauded Spotsylvania County Public School administrators for agreeing to submit to the outside review, as well as for the significant strides toward efficiency that were highlighted in the review.
The review was conducted by auditors and management specialists from the Gibson Consulting Group, Inc., which was selected to conduct the review by the Commonwealth through a competitive process. The reviews are designed to help public school divisions realize greater efficiencies and identify best practices that can be shared with other school divisions. The seven efficiency reviews that have been completed so far have identified $9,273,338 in total savings.
"These reviews are a great example of responsible government, with local school divisions working with us to find efficiencies and ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely," Governor Warner said. "We are investing in our schools, and doing it in a responsible way. I would also like to recognize Superintendent Dr. Jerry Hill for his support and willingness to participate in these efforts, and for the considerable efforts the division has already taken toward fiscal accountability."
According to 2000 U.S. Census data, 90,395 people live in Spotsylvania County. SCPSD serves 22,948 students in PK-12 in 32 schools; five high schools, seven middle schools, 16 elementary schools, one career and technical center, and three alternative schools. The division employs 3,144 full-time equivalents (8 hour employees), including 1,788 teachers, 69 campus administrators, and 45 central administrators. Spotsylvania County is one of the fastest growing counties in Virginia, with enrollment growing 27.2 percent over the past six years. SCPSD has a 2004-05 general education fund budget of $232,790,510.
"Spotsylvania County Schools is grateful to Governor Warner for setting aside the state funds to allow this intensive review of school operations," said Dr. Hill, the Spotsylvania County Public Schools superintendent. "Our School Board and staff are committed to operating the division as efficiently as possible and believe the Gibson Consulting Group's recommendations will support our current efforts and be very helpful in achieving cost savings and improved efficiencies. The next three to five years will be critical as the division works to implement many of the Gibson recommendations, which should enable more dollars to be spent on student instruction thereby improving the quality of instruction for all our students. We believe that great students deserve quality schools, and that quality schools require a conscious investment by each community."
The table below is a summary of the potential savings within the Spotsylvania County Public School Division identified by the Gibson Consulting Group. The savings are annual, and do not include $578,481 in one-time investments.
Recommendations and Annual Savings
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