DeKalb County Schools Raise The Question Of School Budgets?

The proper use of school funds for DeKalb County Schools is the question facing officials in DeKalb County, Georgia. The DeKalb County Schools are cutting $ 115 million out of their yearly budget. At the very same time these cuts are happening, it seems like the school is purchasing around with some money to lend to a PR firm. What's the story behind this DeKalb County Schools move?

DeKalb County Schools cutting budgets

Next Monday evening, DeKalb County Schools are set to take on the issue of spending budget cuts. Like most school districts around the country, DeKalb County Schools are faced with shrinking budgets and rising costs. Parents have raised concerns about the potential of closing schools, and the district could be cutting up to 430 jobs.

Will DeKalb County Schools hire a public relations firm?

With pending lawsuits over spending, even more spending budget cuts, and a significant public relations problem, it is no surprise that DeKalb County Schools feels it needs help. To deal with this, DeKalb country schools is seeking approval from the board to hire a public-relations firm. This PR firm would be hired by DeKalb County Schools to handle "crisis response management" and "creation of good will".

What DeKalb County Schools would spend

The possibility that DeKalb County Schools could be hiring an outside public-relations firm is leaving numerous wondering about use of school funds. In the world of communications and PR budgets, the $25,000 cap on the contract means the district would not be spending much. There would be no line-item cuts to pay for the PR firm — instead, the money will come out of existing communications budgets.

Is this DeKalb County Schools decision right?

The real question is – should DeKalb County Schools be spending the $ 25,000 to hire a public relations firm? This question is one that could be very tough to answer. There is a five-person communications team already employed by the school district. However, the district recognizes that it has a public relations problem. Most school districts get the majority of their funding from local taxes. When a school starts into a downward PR spiral, they can find themselves floundering. At the very same time, when budgets are being tightened and teachers are losing their jobs, should a school district really be spending extra cash? When the district has five employees that already have the job set to be hired out, should they be hiring the job out. What do you think?

Resources:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-schools-looking-to-519172.html

11alive.com

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=143643&catid=3