Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
Date
Similar Ideas
Department/Area
12/30/2008
Accounts Payable
1/22/2009
Accounts Payable
2/23/2009
Athletics
Suggestions (Updated 4/3/2009)
Checks to vendors should be directly deposited.
Notes
Working on electronic solution to paying many
of our vendors.
Make sure that invoices are processed and paid in a
The district is working on technology
timely fashion to ensure that we receive all the discounts enhancements to ensure all payments with
that vendors offer.
discounts are processed in a timely manner.
Instead of cancelling sports, change those that are costly Only three high schools have crew as a
into clubs, such as crew, where parents pay.
recognized sport during the spring season.
The remainder participate with outside groups
that do have any direct connection to the
schools.
Cut many of the assistant coaches.
Schools, because of financial constraints,
have already eliminated positions. For safety
reasons, there are supervisory requirements
based on student-to-coach ratios.
11/12/2008
a
Athletics
1/8/2009
a
Athletics
11/12/2008
b
Athletics
12/1/2008
b
Athletics
Disband the metro competition amongst high schools,
thereby shortening the number of required games,
leading to fewer travel costs.
1/6/2009
b
Athletics
1/7/2009
b
Athletics
11/11/2008
c
Athletics
Cut "freshman only" teams from high school sports
programs in order to retain JV and Varsity.
Cut transportation for middle school sports. There are
enough students in each school who try out that they can
compete against themselves.
Fee-based athletics for sports that do not support
themselves (no charge to students who qualify for F/R
lunch).
Cut athletic directors and have coaches complete
paperwork and report to assistant principals.
Cut middle school sports.
Schools, because of financial constraints,
have already eliminated positions.
Eliminating sports at middle school on a
temporary basis could be a consideration.
Doing so would take away the opportunity for
some students to pay special attention to their
GPA and grades and to be able to participate
and learn sportsmanship in competitive
activities.
The Metro Conference serves several
important functions and guarantees schools
with lower skills sets are given the opportunity
to play other schools within their county. In
doing so, travel is kept to a minimum.
May be investigated.
May be investigated.
This would possibly create an access and
equity situation. It there was a payment
situation, additional staff would be required to
manage the process.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 1 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/29/2008
c
Athletics
1/8/2009
c
Athletics
1/16/2009
c
Athletics
2/17/2009
c
Athletics
11/12/2008
Athletics
12/30/2008
Athletics
1/26/2009
Athletics
1/26/2009
Athletics
Have parents pay for students involved in sports.
This would create an access and equity
situation because some parents would not be
able to pay. It there was a payment situation,
additional staff would be required to manage
the process.
Work with cities and counties to see if students can have Most city and county sport programs are held
discounts on city/county recreation programs in lieu of
in the summer and usually target elementary
sports/athletics.
or early middle school-aged children - not high
school.
Look into corporate sponsorships to pay for athletics.
Due to our nation's current economic
struggles, and the resulting problems that
many businesses are enduring because of it, it
would not be feasible at this time to seek out
corporate sponsorships.
To address the equity and money-handling issues, have Not all high schools have school-wide booster
sports booster clubs handle the taking of money and
clubs that would be able to collect the money.
paying of fees (at the middle school level, the PTA could
handle it). Background checks could be run via OCPS
for those handling money, as we do now for volunteers
and those serving on the PTA. The booster clubs and/or
PTAs could offer scholarships to students who need
them, and schools with a population that can pay the fee
and perhaps more could partner with a school whose
overall population cannot easily afford the fee.
Reduce athletic schedules. Do high school teams really Some schedules have already been adjusted.
need 25 games?
In some states, athletics is part of the PE program. The This sounds like an Intramural Program which
last period of the day is reserved for sports.
occurs at some OCPS schools. To have a
competitive athletic program would not work in
this situation
For specific sports (such as volleyball), have teams from Middle school schedules are set up this way.
several schools play on the same date (some schools do Due to shortage of sport officials however, it is
this).
not possible for the same to happen at the
high school level. Games must be staggered
throughout the course of the week in order to
have them all covered by these officials.
Charge an entrance fee for all sporting events -- not just The district charges for large outdoor events
those held in the gym.
as well as those in the gym.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 2 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/16/2009
Athletics
Use volunteers to coach teams.
It would be problematic to ask for volunteers
to work the large amount of hours necessary
to coach high school athletic teams, without
proper compensation for their time.
2/16/2009
Athletics
For sporting events, ask the parents to carpool rather
than providing a bus for transportation.
2/23/2009
Athletics
Offer only an intramural sports program at the middle
and high school levels.
Some teams are able to have parents provide
transportation, however it is not a practical
alternative at all of our schools.
Since high school athletics provides one
method for student-athletes to attend college
via scholarship, Orange County would see a
decline in students who choose to remain in
our schools and participate in an "intramurals
only" program.
2/23/2009
Athletics
Schedule athletic events on Saturday mornings to
eliminate use of lights on fields.
2/27/2009
Athletics
Form a committee of school officials, coaches, existing
parents and players, as well as those parents of youths
who will be entering high school to develop public-private
partnerships to fund the cost of athletics.
2/2/2009
Budget
Reduce the employee-to-student ratio to 2004 levels.
4/3/2009
Budget
Use Title II dollars as reduction in class size positions.
12/29/2008
Budget/Legislative
The Florida Lottery has seasonal games (like the current State Legislature determines distribution of
Millionaire Raffle); maybe a special drawing like that one lottery proceeds.
could be designed to help out with the budget cuts.
11/13/2008
Calendar
Avoid the heat of August. Start the school year after
Labor Day and start the school day later in the day.
Various sports already use Saturdays to play
athletic contests, though night games typically
produce higher gate receipts.
All ideas are currently being explored to help
fund athletics and extracurricular activities.
Staffing reductions will be made as needed.
Class Size Reduction standards do not
currently permit returning to 2004 staffing for
core teachers
Starting the school year after Labor Day would
mean ending the year in the other hot months
of summer. A later start to the school day
would further impact the sports or other extra
curricular activities that are scheduled
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 3 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/14/2008
Calendar
11/12/2008
a
Community Relations
12/5/2008
a
Community Relations
Recognize all religious holidays so to save money on
substitutes for these days.
School districts cannot take religious holidays
as a school holiday unless there is substantial
data to prove that there is a high absentee
rate for both students and teachers on a
specific religious day.
Change 4-color publications to 2 colors.
Newer digital equipment allows one-pass
printing instead of one pass for each color.
Printing costs will be reviewed.
Eliminate the colorful PR materials that are mailed out to OCPS Today is printed and mailed at no cost
the community.
to the school district or to taxpayers.
Post all parent newsletters on a county website to
Posting newsletters to the Web site is a good
eliminate printing costs.
supplemental communication idea but does
not achieve the goal of alerting parents of it
being posted; nor does every household have
Internet access
Pocket Fact Sheet - consider not printing them or scaling This is under review following a survey of
back who gets them.
OCPS employees.
Seek corporate sponsorship for new schools that have
School Board Communications Committee is
not yet been named.
researching this possibility.
Reduce and restructure public relations department so
Daily news emails to employees aside, the
that only essential communication is occurring. (No need department will be reducing its budget and
to generate daily emails to all staff.)
staff in relation to other district departments.
11/13/2008
Community Relations
12/4/2008
Community Relations
1/16/2009
Community Relations
2/11/2009
Community Relations
2/11/2009
Community Relations
Cease spending on advertising unless tied to income
generation.
2/23/2009
Community Relations
Replace the telephone notification system with email and
The greatest percentage of the community we
custom-write the software for this system.
serve uses voice (telephone) technologies,
i.e., land lines and cell phones.
The Career and Technical Education centers
(postsecondary) are fully funded by DOE
Workforce dollars generated from student
enrollment. Other advertising is either done by
legal requirement, to fill employment
vacancies (bus drivers, etc.), or done without
general operating (taxpayer) funds (for public
relations purposes).
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 4 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/27/2009
Community Relations
3/27/2009
Community Relations
3/31/2009
Community Relations
Have the Partners-in-Education pay a percent of their
quarterly profits to a school, or pay a flat rate to be a
Partner-in-Education.
Business patnerships are developed based on
school needs and business resources;
developing a rate may reduce their giving.
Currently, businesses are providing financial
and in-kind contributions to schools and
district programs which equate to more than
$5 millions.
Put a link on the Web site that allows for direct donations This will be adopted.
of funds.
Sam's Club, Costco and BJ's demo lots of food products. This is under consideration.
Ask them to save the box tops for education.
12/18/2008
d
Curriculum
Instead of sending students in gifted programs to another The number of gifted students varies widely at
school on a bus, have the teacher come to them or do
each school. Gifted students from several
the class via distance learning.
schools are clustered with one teacher to
provide services efficiently. More teachers
would be needed to travel to every school thus
increasing costs. Options for more efficient
services including distance learning are
evaluated and used when possible.
12/19/2008
a
Curriculum
The texts purchased last year can also now be
purchased on CD, eliminating the need for as many
textbooks as we usually purchase. Students will also
appreciate the reduction of the weight in book bags. The
CD version is $3.00 for all texts we have purchased full
price already.
Typically, the CDs are given when a textbook
is purchased. It is not an either/or situation.
The CD does save the need to issue an athome copy if the student has computer
resources at home. The cost of CD's and 2 D
Textbooks or on-line access is the same. The
cost is based on purchase of the intellectual
property -- not publication method.
12/30/2008
a
Curriculum
All schools in the district could use the same textbooks
(like Texas and California). This might save money if
they are bought in bulk then distributed to the schools
from a central OCPS location.
Centralizing textbook purchasing would save
the district funds, but the district would need to
hire additional personnel for this responsibility.
This idea is currently under consideration/will
receive further review.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 5 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/23/2009
a
Curriculum
For students who have computers at home, provide a
Most publishers have a companion website
password so that they can view textbook material online with the textbook on it. Publishers require the
instead of having the actual book at home.
purchase of textbooks in order to have the
website access. In addition, most state
adopted materials can also be purchased in
the digital format. Cost is for development of
content not necessarily the medium. There
would be no savings.
Stop funding the Valencia Community College program Dual enrollment is a state mandate. OCPS
for seniors. Parents and students should pay for college - does not pay tuition fees for these programs.
not the county.
Part of the instructional materials categorical
is for dual enrollment textbooks.
12/30/2008
b
Curriculum
12/30/2008
b
Curriculum
Offer SAT and ACT Prep Classes as an elective just like SAT and ACT prep courses are already
Seminole County. The better the scores, the higher the offered during the school day, before and after
funding from the state.
school and at Saturday sessions. Budget cuts
may prevent the scheduling of SAT and SAT
Prep elective classes at all high schools.
11/14/2008
c
Curriculum
GET RID OF FCAT AND GPA REQUIREMENTS to
allow at risk students to enroll in tech programs. They
need a skill to be productive citizens!
1/5/2009
c
Curriculum
Make trade programs available to students who cannot
or do not wish to go to college.
12/31/2008
d
Curriculum
Consider eliminating "gifted" programs.
1/15/2009
e
Curriculum
Instead of having elementary students attend the
Symphony and the Art have them attend a performance
of their local high school's orchestra and drama
performances.
1/16/2009
e
Curriculum
Chorus is a frill and could be cut. Students can be
involved in chorus at church.
FCAT is a state requirement. High schools
offer technical programs, academies, and/or
dual enrollment opportunities with Tech
Centers.
High schools offer technical programs on
campus or through dual enrollment with Tech
Centers.
Children in Florida who are enrolled in public
school and meet the eligibility criteria for gifted
education must be offered special educational
services.
The symphony and art museums are part of
the United Arts contract. These activities take
place during regular school hours. In addition,
the collaborative planning between OCPS and
the arts organizations ensures that the fine
arts standards are met.
Chorus is a state-approved course and an
approved elective for graduation.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 6 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
Curriculum
Consolidate Alternative Ed Schools that are underenrolled or that duplicate services; provide central
locations for Alt. Ed sites.
11/12/2008
Curriculum
11/12/2008
Curriculum
11/12/2008
Curriculum
11/13/2008
Curriculum
Cut programs in elementary schools like Strings…they
are of value but not necessary.
11/19/2008
Curriculum
Review duplication of services between high
schools/technical center staff.
12/19/2008
Curriculum
Alternative programs are not under-enrolled.
Waiting lists exist to serve students. The
programs are designed with small enrollments
to serve the intense academic and personal
needs of these youth.
Is there research-based statistical evidence that multiple Multiple coaches are required as part of the
reading coaches at schools are really making a
Florida's plan for struggling schools .
difference?
Place content area instructors at the vo-tech centers so Students do receive some of their academic
dual-enrollment students could receive their core
credits in certain programs at the tech centers.
academic courses there, eliminating the need to
Additional high school core course offerings
transport them.
are being studied at this time for summer and
next year.
Cut down the Bilingual Education Department. It has
Title III grant dollars support a majority of
become massive.
personnel in the Multilingual Department. This
grant is designed to enhance the ability of
schools to provide bilingual instructional
programs by providing training, parent
outreach and instructional materials. The
grant provides for instructional coaches,
student mentors and parent outreach.
The Strings program is part of the OCPS
Unitary Status.
High school and tech centers work together to
provide Career and Technical Education
(CTE) services. CTE is currently analyzing all
positions and services to eliminate any
unwarranted duplication.
The state of Florida did not renew SuccessMaker ($1000 SuccessMaker was never funded by the state.
per license). Consider a way to continue using the
It is funded 100% at the school level.
program.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 7 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/5/2009
Curriculum
Textbooks tend to have additional information in them
than is not relevant to the course. Have the publishers
break up the textbooks into smaller workbooks. Only
order the workbooks that pertain to the objectives.
Require all textbook publishers to include a companion
web site to our students and teachers at no charge.
1/6/2009
Curriculum
Rebind text and library books for about 1/10 the price of
a new book.
1/15/2009
Curriculum
1/16/2009
Curriculum
1/20/2009
Curriculum
1/20/2009
Curriculum
The State determines textbook requirements,
then provides a list of approved textbooks for
districts to purchase. The publishers contract
with the state, not with individual districts.
Usually the workbooks or black line masters
are free with the textbooks for the six years of
adoption. Most publishers have a companion
website with the textbook on it.
Rebinding is an option; also, we provide a list
of companies from which schools may
purchase used books.
Implement a half-day kindergarten program.
Kindergarten is considered to be an integral
part of the academic program for students.
Discontinue providing VPK in schools since it is provided The VPK program is state-funded.
in private daycare centers without fully licensed teachers.
Suspend contracting with private companies such as
Rescare/Excel Alternative Schools for expulsion
abeyance and drop-out prevention. Affected students
might take advantage of private schools or virtual
schools while they are serving the terms of their
expulsion.
Defer the opening of the Acceleration Academy.
Community forums on safety explicitly request
these type of programs to ensure
neighborhood safety and to continue serving
the educational needs of these students.
Last year, the decision was made to end
contracted services to Community Education
Partners (CEP), an alternative education
program for at-risk secondary students. It
was determined at that time that the school
district could provide a program that would be
less expensive thus resulting in a cost
savings. Acceleration Academy which is
replacing CEP will open during the second
semester of the 2008-09 school year with
retained 8th grade students experiencing
academic difficulties. In August 2009, the
program will increase to serve 8th grade and
high school students who are behind in their
graduation cohort. Acceleration Academy is
opening at less than the cost of operating
CEP.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 8 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/26/2009
Curriculum
Only provide class set of expensive textbooks and spend The State determines textbook requirements,
money on workbooks to eliminate copying.
then provides a list of approved textbooks for
districts to purchase. The publishers contract
with the state, not with individual districts.
Usually the workbooks or black line masters
are free with the textbooks for the six years of
adoption. Most publishers have a companion
website with the textbook on it.
1/27/2009
Curriculum
1/30/2009
Curriculum
Parter with Florida Virtual School so that students can
take online courses from OCPS teachers. This saves
space in schools and give OCPS the FTE funds from the
state.
Provide high school core classes for free, as required by
the Florida Constitution, but have the electives be
reasonably fee-based to pay for the teacher.
2/5/2009
Curriculum
2/16/2009
Curriculum
2/17/2009
Curriculum
2/23/2009
Curriculum
2/23/2009
Curriculum
FLVS provides franchising opportunities.
There is a cost for the franchise. OCPS would
still have to pay salaries for faculty. Course
offerings are limited.
We are not allowed to charge for classes in
the K-12 public school system. State law
requires more than core classes as a
requirement of graduation.
Seek grant funding to begin biodiesel classes at high
Efforts are underway for a biodiesel program
schools. Rather than pay to pump grease traps, we could at one of the tech centers. The cost of the
have our own truck and plants making fuel.
program would be prohibitive to duplicate it at
the high schools at this time.
Eliminate curricular programs that have nothing to do
These programs and services are mandated
with the basics, like the teenage parent program.
by Florida law.
Have the Extended School Year (ESY) program be full
days for one month instead of half days for two months
to save fuel and power.
Have students take their summer-school and remedial
classes from the Florida Virtual School and close all
schools for the summer.
Replace the low-level comprehension workbook pages in
reading, science, and social studies with thinking maps,
projects, or foldables. The teachers would still have
access to the assessment assistant cds and exam view
cds which could be used as needed to create and copy
worksheet pages for lower level comprehension
assessment.
How ESY services are provided is under
consideration/will receive further review.
FLVS is already a summer option for students
with computers and high-speed Internet
connections, although the virtual school does
not have the capacity to accept every student
wanting to take an online class.
The publishers contract with the state, not with
individual districts. Usually the workbooks or
black line masters are free with the purchase
of textbooks for the six years of adoption. The
use of thinking maps and foldables are
encouraged by the district.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 9 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/25/2009
Curriculum
Have students in agricultural classes cut the grass.
Have students in the building construction program do
maintenance at schools.
Agriculture classes now include courses in
veterinary medicine, large animal care,
turfgrass management, livestock production,
and the like. While some landscape
maintenance could be done, the curriculum
covers much more than cutting grass.
2/25/2009
Curriculum
Mandate that schools eliminate print projects, or have
parents provide the paper. (Accommodate those who
cannot provide paper.) Have students use computer
programs for presentations and turn in work on a disk or
flash drive.
Many classroom teachers and parents provide
donations of paper. There are limitations to
digital submission since most students do not
have district accounts to save their work. The
requirement of disk or flash drive would then
have to be purchased by school and or
donations similar to paper. While these are
not expensive items, not every student has
access to technology resources outside of the
school.
2/25/2009
Curriculum
2/25/2009
Curriculum
Cut middle school curriculum such as agriculture. Middle The State A++ Plan mandates that students
school students don’t think about careers yet.
take a career course in middle school and fill
out an ePep and choose a major while still in
middle school. We are required by legislation
to instruct our middle school students about
careers.
Have agricultural students produce something that can This has been done for years, with the
be sold in the community.
proceeds being used to help support the
Agriculture program. Items such as plants,
furniture, and vegetables do not generate
large amounts of income.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 10 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/3/2009
Curriculum
Close down the Winter Park High pool and have the
students use public pools.
Schools already have a difficult time finding
facilities for practice and matches both in
swimming and water polo, since there are so
few available at the times that are needed for
student athletes. Fees for renting aquatic
facilities have increasly dramatically over the
past few years. The Winter Park pool was
privately funded during the restoration of the
school. The only cost is for the year-around
maintenance to keep it functional. The pool is
paid for and it is cost effective for the school to
swim in it rather than renting out another
facility.
3/16/2009
Curriculum
This is done to the extent possible.
3/16/2009
Curriculum
When opening relief schools, have the "feeder" schools
supply textbooks and materials originally bought for
those students who will be transferred to the relief
schools.
Large (college-like) classrooms w/note-taking on one
subject for two hours. Two subjects/day. Break into
small groups for discussion/homework. Parents could
volunteer for the homework portion. Not only would save
$, would modify education the way it should be.
Saturation. Not piece-meal.
3/19/2009
Curriculum
This teaching strategy would not be
appropriate for all grade levels. Some
secondary schools do provide block times for
courses. Instructional practices, however,
need to include more than a lecture fomat to
meet course requirements and student needs.
In addition, class size is dictated by a state
amendment.
Allow high school students involved in sports an
Wellness instruction is more than the physical
exemption from the PE requirement, like marching band fitness practiced and achieved in a marching
and ROTC. Less PE teachers needed.
band or in ROTC. There could also be an
equity issue because not every high school
may offer ROTC, thus lessening the
opportunity for students to be exempted from
the PE requirement. State statute dictates that
all students have a PE credit. Current statute
and rules provide students involved in sports,
marching band or ROTC waivers. However,
the majority of students are not involved in
these activities. So there would still be a need
for PE teachers.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 11 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/20/2009
Curriculum
4/3/2009
4/3/2009
Curriculum
Curriculum
12/19/2008
e
Curriculum
Have shorter class times and more classes per day so
that students can get their credits sooner.
Offer some AP classes via distance learning.
Ask each academic program to justify its contribution to
student achievement or it will be eliminated.
Eliminate art, music, sports and theatre. Get back to the Eliminating sports would have a high negative
basics.
impact on the community as well as the
students. The Sunshine State Standards for
Fine Arts and PE must be taught to our
students.
Close Evans High School and move the students to
Based on extensive community input, the
Edgewater, Jones and other schools. Both Edgewater
Board has decided to leave Evans as a
and Jones are under capacity. The Evans 9th Grade
comprehensive high school.
Center could remain to house those ninth grade students
to facilitate the tranisition to high school. Another use for
it would be as a Newcomer's Academy. ELL students
with minimal English skills entering high schools on the
west side of the county could attend immersion classes.
The main campus on Silver Star Road could become a
community center.
1/29/2009
Curriculum, Pupil
Assignment
1/29/2009
Curriculum, Technology Allow teachers to bring their own printers to their
classrooms to use with their school computers. This
would alleviate the cost of copy machine maintenance
and maintaining "network" printers. Teachers would have
flexibility in creating assessments, designing intervention
and enrichment activities, as well as sending more
frequent and informative newsletters and other forms of
communication to students' families.
2/16/2009
Curriculum/ESE
ESE students not in job training programs should leave
after four years of high school - not stay until age 22.
Combine Hillcrest and Howard into one K-8 school,
adding teachers each year until the whole school is a
foreign language magnet.
Make Sand Lake Elementary a K-8 with Southwest
Middle.
Combine Eccleston and Carver Middle to make a K-8
school.
2/16/2009
a
Curriculum/Facilities
2/23/2009
a
Curriculum/Facilities
3/16/2009
a
Curriculum/Facilities
This could certainly be done. The question is,
who pays for inkjet cartridges, as the persheet cost of using inkjet is very high, and
much more expensive than copier or laser
imprints. Inkjet cartridges typically cost $30$40. We have eliminated individual inkjet
printers for this reason. Laser printers are
much more economical, with high-volume,
black-and-white copiers being the cheapest
solution overall.
We are legally bound to provide services for
ESE students until the age of 22 if they wish to
continue.
This is currently being studied.
Options for merging smaller schools are under
consideration.
Options for merging smaller schools are under
consideration.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 12 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/19/2009
Curriculum/Facilities
When shuttering schools, also consider other options,
More efficient use of all facilities will be
such as making better use of locations. For example,
explored.
transferring Howard Middle students to a smaller school
building (capital, non-recurring dollars could be used to
prepare the smaller location for Howard's students) and
using the current Howard building to house a growing
elementary and popular program such as Hillcrest
elementary's foreign language magnet.
3/16/2009
Curriculum/Legislative
Eliminate the state requirement for PE (HOPE) for
students who play varsity sports or participate in other
athletic training (dance or ballet). These students are
likely to exceed the minimum requirements of the PE
part of the HOPE course. This would eliminate the need
for so many PE teachers. The health requirement could
be maintained.
Wellness instruction is more than the physical
fitness practiced and achieved in a sport or
athletic activity. There could also be an equity
issue because not every high school may offer
the same number of varsity sports or athletic
training activities, thus lessening the
opportunity for students at different schools to
be exempted from the PE requirement. There
is still an elective requirement for graduation
and the PE course meets that requirement.
The elimination of HOPE would not
necessarily reduce the number of PE
teachers. Not sure how to respond to the
statement that the "health requirement could
be maintained."
Custodial
Cut the number of hours that custodians are on school
campus to center around the daily school activities
hours. Maintain two shifts but close the campus down at
6 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. for three hours less of energy
usage per school.
The number of custodians in the district has
been significantly reduced over the past 5
years, and OCPS is currently at the bare
minimum number of individuals required to
provide a clean and healthy environments for
our students, staff and the public. These
custodians are unable to clean classrooms
and offices when they are occupied without
disrupting the educational process. During the
evening hours, school buildings go to a low
power mode and the A/C is set-back, and as
such, additional energy is not required to
cover their hours of work.
12/17/2008
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 13 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
4/3/2009
Custodial
Think about "skip cleaning," which is every-other-day
office and classroom cleaning.
This and other alternatives to achieve clean
and healthy schools with the minimal staff
available are being evaluated. School
cleanliness is monitored by district
maintenance staff, the health department, the
district safety staff in addition to the school
principal and staff.
Although roles do differ, these departments
are working closely with ICTS to try and avoid
duplication of efforts.
We pay City for expenses only. The remaining
revenue comes to OCPS and is used to
maintain the garage.
11/14/2008
ELC
12/15/2008
ELC
1/15/2009
ELC
Some departments - Curriculum, PDS, Instructional
Technology, ESE and Financial may duplicate some of
the roles of ICTS. Have one IT Department.
Consider renegotiating the parking agreement with the
City of Orlando (where ELC garage is used for Magic
games and other Arena venues) such that we ask for
more of a percentage.
Reduce cleaning staff at ELC. Have staff clean their own There are 4 custodians assigned to the ELC.
areas.
The night cleaning is done by an outside
contracting company. The contractor has a
set price that is being evaluated to lower.
Consideration is being given to having OCPS
employees day and night.
2/23/2009
ELC
Have custodial/maintenance work completed during the
normal work day to reduce environmental costs.
3/16/2009
ELC
3/19/2009
ELC
Have some employees share offices and make offices
smaller to free up floors to rent out.
Eliminate the cafeteria in the ELC.
11/21/2008
ELC/District
Have some offices operate with one manager.
Offices are managed by as few administrators
as are necessary to direct work of office.
11/21/2008
ELC/District
Centralize all functions; bring area learning community
offices to ELC.
The ELC is almost at capacity. Learning
communities serve and work in schools more
than they work in the ELC, and are
geographically located.
Restrooms and common areas are being
cleaned day and night now. The night
cleaning in for the individual work areas and
offices. We would need to look at job
descriptions to include cleaning of work
areas/offices.
This is a self-supporting contracted service.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 14 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
a
Energy Management
11/12/2008
a
Energy Management
11/13/2008
a
Energy Management
12/1/2008
a
Energy Management
12/1/2008
a
Energy Management
12/5/2008
a
Energy Management
Operate the ELC on a 10-hour day, 4-day week during
the summer to save energy costs.
Shutdown and break schedules are being
examined to further reduce energy during
these periods. Energy set-back at the ELC
unfortunately is not currently possible as it
does not have an EMS (Energy Management
System), although proposals are being
developed for future installation.
Close all school buildings one hour earlier (from 8 p.m. to Management Directive B10 establishes
7 p.m., for example).
guidelines for operating hours for elementary
(10 hrs/day), middle (11 hrs/day) and high
schools (12 hrs/day) to minimize operating
costs. Schools are given the flexibility to
adjust their schedule depending upon aftercare agreements or other after-hours
scheduled activities. Schools request and
establish their operating schedules through a
web-based system.
Shut off all lights at the ELC by a certain time - 9:30 p.m., The ELC is in need of an EMS (Energy
for example.
Management System) which may also be
used to control lighting. The current practice
is to turn off lights in the evening once
custodial crews have completed daily
housekeeping tasks. Work scopes are being
developed however limited capital funding
may prohibit the immediate implementation of
this costly upgrade.
Change approach to shutdown of schools. Close one
Allowing all sites to remain open will not
day/week from June 8 - August 3 and work four 10-hour produce savings during winter break. Other
days. Close all but one school in each learning
practices are being implemented in a similar
community the week of July 4 for a total of 13 shut-down form.
days. Let employees work at their own sites during
Winter Break for more productivity.
Close all schools for the week of Thanksgiving and one This practice is already in place. (Most
of the two weeks during the December holiday break.
schools are closed for the two-week Winter
Break.)
Shut down all buildings, including the ELC and learning Most buildings are shut down during breaks.
communities, during Thanksgiving and winter break to
The district "sets back" the temperature of the
save in energy consumption.
facilities not in use during the holiday breaks.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 15 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
b
Energy Management
Turn out half the lights in the classroom.
The Department of Health requires minimum
lighting levels in public spaces, including
classrooms, offices, assembly and circulation
areas.
Turn off every other light in the hallways.
The Department of Health requires minimum
lighting levels in public spaces, including
classrooms, offices, assembly and circulation
areas.
Require that all classroom lights be turned off when no
Per Facilities Design Standard 26-51-13
one is in the room, even for short periods of time.
B.c.3.5, all interior lighting fixtures in
classrooms and offices are to be equipped
with occupancy sensors to reduce energy.
Installation/replacement occurs during new
construction and renovation. Funding is
provided from the capital budget.
Turn off half of the school outdoor or parking lot lights at The Department of Health requires minimum
night.
lighting levels in public spaces, including
classrooms, offices, assembly and circulation
areas.
Have the high schools turn off their stadium lights after
This practice should already be in place.
an event.
Have ceiling fans in schools that can be used during nice Per Florida Building Code, it is required to
weather and turn off thermostats.
deliver a specified amount of fresh outside air
to classrooms and occupied spaces. This is
controlled through the HVAC system and uses
economizer technology to take advantage of
cool outside air when available to help cool
interior spaces. Central Florida, however, is
also known for high humidity in summer
months, and as such humidity controls are
required to prevent indoor air quality issues.
11/13/2008
b
Energy Management
11/21/2008
b
Energy Management
11/21/2008
b
Energy Management
12/3/2008
b
Energy Management
11/11/2008
c
Energy Management
11/11/2008
c
Energy Management
All portables, relocatables and guard booths should have The district "sets back" the temperature of the
AC/heat off during breaks, weekends, and the summer. facilities not in use during the holiday breaks.
11/11/2008
c
Energy Management
Turn up all thermostats by one degree in warm weather
and down one degree in cool weather.
The district has increased the minimum
interior set point temperature by one degree to
74F and has seen a measured amount of
savings. This savings is currently included in
the current budget.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 16 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
c
Energy Management
Have doors to the outside of a school close automatically Per Facilities Design Standard 08-71-00, door
and stay closed to prevent loss of air
closers are provided on all exterior doors as
conditioning/heating.
part of new construction and renovation. The
rate of closure must meet Florida Building
Code to ensure safety and ADA accessibility.
11/12/2008
c
Energy Management
Provide incentive for schools to cut energy costs by
giving a percentage of savings back to each school.
The district did employ an incentive program
for three years whereby half of the savings in
Kwh usage was returned in the form of a
check to the school. After the three-year trial,
it was determined that only a small percentage
of the schools actually showed consistent
improvement, so we were unable to
demonstrate a direct correlation between
energy conservation and the incentive checks.
As such, the incentive program was stopped.
Other more recent initiatives have proven
greater savings without the need for the
incentive checks.
11/13/2008
c
Energy Management
Need energy audits of classrooms. Adjust where cold.
11/13/2008
c
Energy Management
Insulate the exterior of our buildings instead of installing
insulation in cavities of concrete and or steel stud walls
(both are conductors, NOT insulators).
All schools are periodically audited by our
district energy administrators to gauge their
level of compliance with district energy
standards and best-practices. Reports are
provided to Principals and area administrators
for follow up.
Building practices must meet Florida Building
Code and also be approved by licensed
architectural and engineering firms. The
district has not had great success with exterior
insulation systems in the past, referred to as
EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems),
as these have been prone to water intrusion
leading to indoor air quality issues.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 17 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/13/2008
c
Energy Management
ONLY USING WHITE ROOFING. Dept of Energy said
that 6-7% energy reduction is available in hot humid
states that do this.
11/13/2008
c
Energy Management
Regulate the air better in the ELC/put a tint on the ELC
windows. It is cold all the time.
11/14/2008
c
Energy Management
Create a better way to manage the temperatures in the
classrooms. Most are too cold.
1/12/2009
c
Energy Management
Install blinds in all windows to minimize cooling costs.
11/11/2008
d
Energy Management
11/11/2008
d
Energy Management
Put motion-detector lights in rest rooms so they're not on
all day.
Unplug all unnecessary appliances when not in use.
Turn off televisions, lights, etc., when no one is in the
room.
Per Facilities Design Standard 07 54 00,
Thermoplastic Roof Membrane Systems must
meet Energy Star standards for reflectance
and insulating performance.
Installation/replacement occurs during new
construction and renovation. Funding is
provided from the capital budget.
The ELC is in need of an EMS (Energy
Management System) and upgrade to
address an aging HVAC system. Work
scopes are being developed; however, limited
capital funding may prohibit the immediate
implementation of this costly upgrade.
Per Facilities Design Standard 23 09 23,
Energy Management Systems (EMS) are
used to control HVAC systems in all new and
renovated spaces. These are centrally
controlled and limit the range of temperatures
allowable in schools and other facilities.
Minimum A/C space temperature set point is
74F.
Fire Safety regulations do not allow the use of
window blinds on most classroom windows as
they could inhibit the use of the windows as a
secondary means of egress in an emergency.
Schools benefit by the use of "day-lighting" to
offset the cost of requiring higher levels of
artificial interior lighting. Day lighting also has
been found to produce learning benefits for
students. The purchase and maintenance
cost of window blinds has been found to be
excessive.
Motion sensors in restrooms have been found
to be unreliable.
OCPS Management Directive B10 requires
that appliances are unplugged during breaks
and extended period of non-use.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 18 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
d
Energy Management
Do not allow small appliances in individual offices; have
them in central areas (lounges).
Per the Federal Energy Star data resource,
the cost to operate a mini-fridge is less than
$2/month. In any case, schools have allowed
the use of these mini-fridge units to enable
staff to better supervise their student versus
travelling to a break room or lounge to retrieve
a lunch. Elimination of the mini-fridges may
require the purchase of additional large
refrigerators to be used in break rooms.
11/11/2008
d
Energy Management
Light bulbs are used in corridors, classrooms and EXIT
signs. Replace 40-watt with 3-watt LED bulbs in EXIT
signs.
The use of LED technology for exit signs and
other similar interior direction signs, along with
parking lot lighting, is being studied by the
Facilities Design unit as a potential energy and
life cycle cost-savings idea. It will likely be
implemented in new installations.
11/11/2008
Energy Management
11/12/2008
Energy Management
Adjust water heaters or boilers down a few degrees; hot Water heater use by the district is minimal.
water is only a necessity for showers and cafeteria.
Temperatures are set and maintained per
County Health Department Code.
All new and replacement hand washing sink faucets
Per Facilities Design Standard 22-02-00,
should be ultra low flow .5 or 1 gpm. Shower heads
section 3.2.C, all plumbing fixture hardware
should be 1.25 or 1.5 gpm.
shall be specified as low-flow. Installation/
replacement occurs during new construction
and renovation. Funding is provided from the
capital budget.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 19 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
Energy Management
Use reclaimed water for shrubs and trees.
The majority of irrigation systems used by the
district are for sports fields. Per Facilities
Design Standard 32-84-00, OCPS irrigation
systems must include rain sensors to
conserve water where "gray water" (re-use
water) is available, this must be used as a first
choice for irrigation. Meters must be installed
along with appropriate backflow preventers.
Drought-tolerant plants are being specified in
all new construction and renovation projects.
A project to retrofit existing irrigation systems
with meters and wells in the past several
years was found to have an unfavorable
economic rate of return and as such funding
was stopped. Installation/replacement occurs
during new construction and renovation.
Funding is provided from the capital budget.
11/13/2008
Energy Management
Use alternative energy sources like solar, wind, methane The district currently has over a dozen solar
to help heat schools.
hot water and photovoltaic systems in place.
These were all co-funded with grants through
utility companies and the Florida Solar Energy
Commission. The economic return on these
installations in only viable when grants provide
a major portion of the funding. A grant was
also obtained for a biodiesel unit to convert
kitchen cooking byproducts into diesel fuel
which is being used on a limited basis by the
OCPS Grounds Maintenance department.
This is also only economically feasible when
grants are available to provide a majority of
the funding.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 20 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/9/2009
Energy Management
1/15/2009
Energy Management
2/18/2009
Energy Management
2/19/2009
Energy Management
2/23/2009
Energy Management
Use clocks on the wall instead of having TV's on all day
long in classrooms with the time.
The clock feature used by classroom
televisions is displayed in the low-power mode
of the appliance and is not found to be a
significant drain on utilities. The cost of the
wall clocks would be in addition to the
televisions which serve a dual purpose by also
being used as an educational tool for the
classrooms.
Have classes start before sunrise. It would save in
This is a Legislative decision/school board
energy costs.
decision.
Turn up the temperature in unoccupied buildings to 85
Temperatures are currently set-back to 80degrees. The AC would still cycle so the building would 82F during unoccupied periods. Higher
be fresh.
temperatures tended to create indoor air
quality issues.
Make each school accountable for the kilowatt hours that The use of electricity is monitored and
they use. Too many TVs, appliances and lights are left reported to each school and area
on when not in use.
administrators who oversee them. Energy
audits are periodically conducted and wasteful
practices are addressed.
Turn down the A/C in schools. It is always cold.
The district currently controls classroom
temperatures to a range of 74F to 77F. This
is one degree higher than last year, and
savings has been seen.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 21 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/25/2009
Energy Management
Switch lighting to more energy-efficient lighting.
OCPS has implemented 25 lighting
partnership projects with OUC whereby 24
schools and the ELC were retrofitted with new,
high-efficiency light fixtures which improve
lighting levels at the student’s desktop by 1/3
and reduce energy used for lighting by 1/3.
There are a total of 10 more projects slated
for the near future, which will complete all
schools in need of implementing the more
efficient light fixtures. The Facilities standard
for interior classroom lighting on all new and
renovation school projects specifies the
installation of high efficiency T-8 lighting. The
Facilities Planning and Design staff is
researching the use of LED and other high
efficiency lighting types that may further
reduce energy use in parking lots and other
applicable areas.
3/2/2009
Energy Management
3/16/2009
Energy Management
Enroll in the Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE)
A similar program, which offers behavior
Program that may help reduce energy costs by 12% over modification as a performance contract
a five-year period.
solution to energy conservation, was
implemented in the OCPS school district over
five years ago by Energy Educators Company
and has produced very positive results. The
SEE program has been evaluated and would
result in a significant added annual cost to the
district.
Where possible, eliminate as many light bulbs as
Lighting levels in schools are established
possible while still maintaining current legal
according to county health code and Florida
requirements. (Howard Middle students found that they building code. The actions taken at Howard
exceed the amount of light necessary.)
MS are being evaluated to determine if the
removal of lamps actually still meets the code
requirements, and if the energy was actually
reduced, as the lamp ballasts continue to draw
energy when the circuit is energized.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 22 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/27/2009
Energy Management
Reduce the number of personal appliances that are in
classrooms, such as microwaves and coffee pots.
The use of appliances in classrooms is being
evaluated. Refrigerators and microwaves are
provided in break areas to accommodate
teachers and others who need to remain onhand throughout the day to supervise students
and staff or to assist when called upon.
Personal refrigerators do require additional
electricity cost, but this would be offset by the
need to purchase additional refrigerators for
break rooms and the lack of classroom
supervision if teachers were all required to
leave their classrooms when on break or
when taking lunch.
3/2/2009
Energy Management/
Finance
Contact utility companies and hedge the energy use for
all facilities. Look at the market to buy future energy for
all schools.
Encourage recycling programs, starting with the ELC
cafeteria, and allow students to perform a community
service.
Make recycling a district priority.
Speculation of currency or trade is not
permitted by Florida Statute or School Board
Policy.
11/12/2008
a
Environmental
Compliance
11/12/2008
a
12/19/2008
a
Environmental
Compliance
Environmental
Compliance
ESE
12/31/2008
Have every school recycle paper, aluminum and plastic.
Develop a plan to serve ESE students who cannot
handle the regular school setting instead of placing ESE
students on options such as shortened day, which results
in one student being picked up at half day by one
separate bus.
Students would only be served on a shortened
day if required by an IEP. This would be for a
limited period of time while transitioning to a
full-day program.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 23 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/31/2008
ESE
Reduce the number of pages on the IEP and other
compliance reports to save paper. (Even electronic
reports get printed.)
The current OCPS Individual Education Plan
is five pages in length. The length of the
document is determined by the information
required from state and federal mandates.
The district's ESE and IT departments are
working with the DOE to implement the state's
electronic ESE management system. Once
this process is in place, the need for paper
copies will be significantly reduced. Report
presentations have been revised to provide
the maximum information in the most efficient
format.
11/14/2008
a
ESOL
Eliminate the program assistants from the MSES
Department -- not efficient.
Program assistants assist with the testing and
placement of English Language Learner (ELL)
students as required by law. The number of
program assistants was reduced by 50% for
FY 08-09. Eliminating all program assistants
would require schools to hire additional staff to
meet placement requirements.
1/8/2009
a
ESOL
Adjust the ESOL program; have one teacher instead of
several; limit program participation time.
Work with the state to clean up ESOL discrepancy report
errors.
Allocations for ESOL positions (teachers and
paraprofessionals) should determined and paid for by the
MLSS from the ESOL-weighted 130 funding, not left to
the individual schools.
ESOL Teacher allocations are based on
student enrollment at the school level.
This process is in place to rectify ESOL
discrepancy errors.
Allocations for ESOL positions are determined
and assigned to schools by the Budget
Department using the ESOL weighted 130
FTE funding.
11/14/2008
ESOL
12/31/2008
ESOL
1/5/2009
ESOL
The amount of ESOL training for teachers is excessive.
Also, many students remain in the program far too long.
Teacher ESOL trainings are mandated by the
Florida Meta Consent decree.
1/17/2009
ESOL
Some students who use interpreters could use the
Dragon program that can convert voice to print on a
laptop.
The Florida META Consent decree mandates
that schools with at least 15 students or more
who speak the same native language provide
a paraprofessional or teacher proficient in the
same language and trainer to assist in ESOL
basic subject area instruction.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 24 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/20/2009
ESOL
Reduce paperwork requirement for ESOL (five forms).
Much of it is repetitive. Saves paper and time.
For Fiscal Year 08-09, the ESOL paperwork
was reduced by 50% to maximize efficiency.
The current required documents are available
in word format and meet the minimum state
and federal mandates. The FDOE is
considering an electronic ESOL management
system for the state in the near future. Once
this process is in place, the need for paper will
be considerably reduced.
1/20/2009
ESOL
Many students who speak English are in ESOL
programs. Downsize to accomodate those who truly
need the service.
The Florida META Consent decree stipulates
the identification, assessment and exit of ELL
students. Students are required to
demonstrate minimum English proficiency in
the State Language Proficiency test in order to
exit the program.
1/26/2009
ESOL
Aprenda testing for bilingual students is too costly and
serves no purpose. There are other ways to show
progress in the student's native language.
2/16/2009
ESOL
ESOL teachers are highly trained, so instructional
coaches are not necessary.
Aprenda is purchased with federal grant
funds. The test is required by Title III
mandates and is only administered to students
taught in Spanish to determine program
effectiveness and student academic
performance.
Title III grant-funded instructional coaches
provide supplementary training, mentoring and
coaching to teachers who serve ELLs in
meeting their unique linguistic and academic
needs as demonstrated by assessment data.
These services provide supplementary
language enhancement instruction to increase
language proficiency to aid ELL in meeting
grade-level performance indicators of
academic content and mastery of Florida
academic standards.
Extended Day
Return a larger portion of Extended Day funds back to
the school to be used for supplies, teachers, etc.
Currently, if you use a contracted provider, they are
required to give 13% of their profits to the district. Of that
13%, 7% goes to the school for their use. The other 6%
goes to the district for their use.
3/2/2009
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 25 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/13/2008
a
Facilities
Change all irrigation to drip systems. Get Agriculture
classes to retrofit.
The majority of irrigation systems used by the
district are for sports fields. Per Facilities
Design Standard 32-84-00, OCPS irrigation
systems must include rain sensors to
conserve water, where "gray water" (re-use
water) is available, this must be used as a first
choice for irrigation. Meters must be installed
along with appropriate backflow preventers.
Drought-tolerant plants are being specified in
all new construction and renovation projects.
A project to retrofit existing irrigation systems
with meters and wells in the past several
years was found to have an unfavorable
economic rate of return and as such funding
was stopped. Installation/replacement occurs
during new construction and renovation.
Funding is provided from the capital budget.
1/7/2009
a
Facilities
Cut landscaping and irrigation costs. Pretty lawns and
campuses should no longer be a priority.
The majority of irrigation systems used by the
district are for sports fields. Per Facilities
Design Standard 32-84-00, OCPS irrigation
systems must include rain sensors to
conserve water, where "gray water" (re-use
water) is available, this must be used as a first
choice for irrigation. Meters must be installed
along with appropriate backflow preventers.
Drought-tolerant plants are being specified in
all new construction and renovation projects.
A project to retrofit existing irrigation systems
with meters and wells in the past several
years was found to have an unfavorable
economic rate of return and as such funding
was stopped. Installation/replacement occurs
during new construction and renovation.
Funding is provided from the capital budget.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 26 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
b
Facilities
Re-use furniture from portable disconnect projects and
transfer it to the new portable installation projects.
The district employs an asset management
process whereby used furniture is evaluated
for potential re-use when portables are
returned or school renovations are conducted.
When found to be beyond their useful life, the
district sells the furniture through a surplus
auction process. Damaged or unrepairable
furniture components are disassembled and
sold as scrap through the OCPS Warehouse
department
11/12/2008
b
Facilities
Return all portables that are not being used so that we're After the 10-day count each year in October,
not paying rent on empty buildings.
schools are surveyed to determine if any
portables may be returned to the leasing
vendor. The process to disconnect and
remove a portable takes approximately 120
days from the time the school agrees to the
removal of the portable classroom.
11/12/2008
b
Facilities
All portables should be purchased on a rent-to-own
contract.
The district has found that the life cycle of
portables makes it unattractive from an
economic standpoint to purchase these units.
The typical life cycle of a portable is about 10
years, after which they may not meet current
building codes; interior and exterior finishes
have deteriorated to a point of needing
significant renovation or repair. Portables are
still considered a temporary solution to
overcrowding, and efforts are made annually
to remove and return all unused portable
classrooms to the leasing vendors.
3/27/2009
c
Facilities
Move all Oak Ridge High students to Lake Nona for two
years while Oak Ridge is being rebuilt.
Overall, there would not be enough space to
accommodate all of the Oak Ridge HS
students in the Lake Nona HS in addition to
the students now zoned to attend Lake Nona
HS. The cost of transportation was evaluated
to determine if a swing school concept was
possible, and this cost out-weighed the
potential capital project cost savings
possibilities.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 27 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
Facilities
1/8/2009
Facilities
1/20/2009
Facilities
1/29/2009
Facilities
2/16/2009
Facilities
2/16/2009
Facilities
Close schools down in the summer except for two weeks Consideration is being given to modified
before the start of school.
shutdowns similar to what is done during the
winter holidays.
Have custodians team up to clean specific locations
School buildings are closed during extended
instead of keeping all buildings open during 1/2-week
vacations.
breaks.
Do not replace ceiling tiles in schools until leaky roofs are This is a wise practice, and is what the
fixed.
maintenance staff is directed to do.
Unfortunately at times, even though it is
believed that the leak has been repaired, it
reoccurs. The county health department
requires that stained ceiling tiles must be
replaced in a timely manner to ensure a safe
environment for students, staff and the public.
Use room classification information from the DOE EFIS
system to verify that classrooms are being used
appropriately. Match student schedule with EFIS info
This is currently a standard practice when
determining the space utilization of schools,
and factors into plans for installing or
removing portables.
Close Hungerford Prep. Merge Lake Weston and
Merging smaller schools is under
Hungerford Elementary relocating to Hungerford Prep
consideration/will receive further review;
campus. Relocate North Maintenance to Lake Weston attempts to sell surplus property began
campus. Sell Herndon hanger. Savings: transportation, months ago.
facility maintenance, leased portables plus income from
sale.
Charge a small fee to employees who bring personal
The use of appliances in classrooms is being
appliances to work (small refrigerators, etc.).
evaluated. Refrigerators and microwaves are
provided in break areas to accommodate
teachers and others who need to remain onhand throughout the day to supervise students
and staff or to assist when called upon.
Personal refrigerators do require additional
electricity cost, but this would be offset by the
need to purchase additional refrigerators for
break rooms and the lack of classroom
supervision if teachers were all required to
leave their classrooms when on break or
when taking lunch.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 28 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/16/2009
Facilities
Use worms to compost garbage. These "earth"
resources could be used to compost garbage that could
be used to revitalize campases around the district,
thereby saving money on trash hauling and compost
materials for plants.
There would be a significant cost associated
with separating and composting the garbage.
There are also permitting considerations. This
is best handled by waste management
companies who are in this business. OCPS
does not have a use for the composted
materials which would be generated.
2/16/2009
Facilities
Instead of using construction management, the school
district should consider hard bidding construction
projects.
This method, along with others such as designbid are periodically trialed and evaluated.
There has been no significant cost benefit
found in this regard. With costs currently
falling in the market because of the economy,
it is beneficial to use the CM method which
passes savings on to the school district.
2/16/2009
Facilities
Close Winter Park 9th Grade Center and send the
students to WPHS. Sell property to Rollins College.
Winter Park 9th students could not be
accommodated in available space at the main
campus. This would increase capital costs.
2/23/2009
Facilities
2/23/2009
Facilities
2/25/2009
Facilities
2/25/2009
Facilities
Consider using Leak Doctor to help reduce water usage In-house Facilities staff members use many of
on campuses.
the same methods used by Leak Doctor, and
this company has been used in the past when
needed.
Go to year-round schools and close smaller schools.
Options for merging small schools are under
consideration.
Use modular pods at schools in place of permanent
Changes in state Building Codes have
facilities so that they can be relocated when needed.
outpaced and negated the ability for the
modular pods to be re-used at other school
sites. Experience shows that these likewise
are not constructed to the same level of
quality and longevity as permanent
construction and as such do not meet life
cycle cost analysis evaluation as required by
Florida Statute.
This alternative construction method has been
Use concrete floors simulated with patterns in new
reviewed by the COVE Value Engineering
construction for easier maintenance. Some new floors
are not maintained properly and will cost more in the long-subcommittee, and has not been found to be
run. Teach custodians how to property maintain what is the lowest life-cycle cost alternative.
already installed.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 29 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/2/2009
Facilities
Review the need for Energy Advisor positions if teacher
positions can be saved.
All positions are currently under review to
determine their benefit to the school district.
The district utility budget is significant and
requires oversight and management to ensure
charges are appropriate and actions are taken
to conserve. The district has reduced
consumption per SF by over 10% this school
year which reflects on this oversight and
management.
3/6/2009
Facilities
Maintain a database of qualified contractors and
handymen (licensed, insured and clean criminal record)
within a given radius of each school to provide
maintenance and repairs to school facilities instead of
having employees do this. This will promote local
businesses, help the community economy, and will
improve schools and local businesses interactions and
cooperation.
Contractors and vendors have been awarded
contracts to provide these services and are
used when needed. The district has saved
significant costs by self-performing much of
the required daily maintenance and
purchasing only the materials and supplies
needed. Many of the maintenance employees
have been stationed at the schools to
minimize travel time and cost.
Save water by using waterless urinals in new
construction and restroom upgrades.
11/11/2008
c
Facilities/Construction
11/21/2008
c
Facilities/Construction
12/19/2008
c
Facilities/Construction
1/2/2009
c
Facilities/Construction
The capital cost of the units and weekly
operating cost have been trialed and not fully
proven to be economically beneficial.
Use standardized materials in construction, like lights, so Facilities currently has established 138
that maintenance costs remain low.
standards, supported by thousands of
specifications to ensure that all new and
renovated construction meets our prototype
quality standards, and achieves the best lifecycle performance.
Build the new Edgewater High on the Hungerford
This alternative was evaluated by Facilities for
campus. You can use the existing Edgewater campus as COVE and the School Board and found to
well.
NOT be the lowest cost alternative. The
current course of action to rebuild the campus
at its current location was the lowest cost
alternative for the school district.
Consider a moritorium on new construction. Halt
needless rebuilding and work with what you have.
New construction and renovation costs are
funded from Capital and do not impact
Operating budgets.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 30 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/5/2009
c
Facilities/Construction
Postpone the opening of the new Lake Nona High School Lake Nona High School will be utilized as a
to save with busing, utilities, faculty, since it will be under potential swing school to relieve an
capacity.
overcrowded Middle School in the area while
the relief school for that Middle School is
under construction. In addition, Valencia
Community College may use a portion of the
campus during the interim, so overall the new
Lake Nona High School will be fully utilized.
3/19/2009
Facilities/Finance
Pay salaries for all personnel who directly support the
This is already done, to the extent permitted.
construction and renovation projects out of the sales tax
monies, as part of the soft costs of those projects.
4/3/2009
Facilities/Finance
We may not need as many schools in another decade.
Lease space instead.
During off-season (November - March), cut lawn
maintenance from weekly to every 10-12 days.
Contract out all grass cutting and cleaning services, but
make sure they are monitored.
11/12/2008
a
Facilities/Maintenance
11/12/2008
a
Facilities/Maintenance
Enrollment projections are used to develop
plans for student enrollment, and must be
balanced with the state to ensure only the
number of student seats needed are created.
Until all district portables can be removed,
there is likely continued need for some
additional schools in certain areas.
The district currently mows lawns at schools
on a 14-day cycle.
The district uses a combination of both
internal staff and contracted services to
maintain school grounds. The benefit is that
the contracted services allow for the size of
the grounds department to expand during the
summer growing season, but to flex back to
an experienced staff during slower times.
Although the district has expanded by
thousands of acres over the past 10 years, the
size and budget of the Grounds Maintenance
Department has remained virtually the same,
as operating efficiency improvements have
been implemented to complete the task with
limited resources.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 31 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
Facilities/Maintenance
Install hand dryers to replace the use of paper towels.
Eliminates plumbing problems/garbage.
11/12/2008
Facilities/Maintenance
11/14/2008
Facilities/Maintenance
Have Maintenance and Custodial workers share the
same vehicle at a school when the Maintenance staff
person reports there daily.
Give maintenance department authority to pull permits
and conduct the work in-house, saving more money by
not having to hire outside vendors.
11/14/2008
Facilities/Maintenance
Have fewer staff members perform some of the simpler
tasks.
11/21/2008
Facilities/Maintenance
Put Maintenance staff back in the schools for faster
service.
1/5/2009
Facilities/Maintenance
Replace disposable air filter systems in all schools and
buildings with permanent filters (which are washable),
eliminating the cost of filters, storage, and cutting some
of the labor costs associated with changing them.
4/3/2009
Facilities/Procurement
Pool resources with other school districts for builder's
risk coverage for school construction projects. Arizona
allows this.
Per Facilities Design Standard 10 28 13, warm
air hand dryers are specified in all new
construction and renovations.
Installation/replacement occurs during new
construction and renovation. Funding is
provided from the capital budget.
Custodial workers typically do not require the
use of a district vehicle.
Florida statute limits the use of operational
dollars by the Operations/Maintenance
department to conducting repairs and
replacement-in-kind only. Limited funding and
staff prohibits being able do all of the work inhouse as certain specialties and equipment
are only needed periodically. Contractors are
only used when the scope of work is beyond
the capabilities of the OCPS maintenance
team.
With reduced budgets, this is taking place,
which translates to improved operating
efficiency.
This concept is being implemented at this time
as a means of reducing travel time and
improving operating efficiency.
The district is unable to ensure that the
washable filters provide the same level of
safety and health for building occupants, and
is faced with the issue of environmental
disposal of cleaning fluids during the process
of washing filters. In addition, half of the cost
of changing air filters is the labor component;
this cost is estimated to double if the
technicians are required to wash and replace
the filters, thus more than offsetting any
potential cost savings.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 32 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
Facilities/Real Property
Sell property on Fort Gatlin.
The School Board must declare property as
surplus when it is reported as unneeded by
staff. The Gatlin facility is currently in use as a
location for various administrative operations.
12/19/2008
Facilities/Real Property
Use extra space in the smaller elementary schools for
the offices for area superintendents/directors.
Area Superintendents are currently housed in
either available space at the central Facilities
complex at Magic Way, or in district-owned
portables located at existing schools, with the
exception of the Central Learning Community.
Non-leased locations are currently being
evaluated for the location of the Central
Learning Community to reduce the cost of
leased facilities.
4/1/2009
Facilities/Real Property
Move Apopka Middle School students to the 9th Grade
Center permanently and sell the AMMS site or lease it
long-term due to its location.
The Apopka 9th Grade Center is a modular
campus and would need to be upgraded to
meet equitable and programmatic standards
as is being addressed on all other OCPS
modular campuses. The funding required
would equal that of the MS renovation
currently under way. Use of the 9th grade
campus as a swing school does save the
capital project cost budget by over $1 million.
Discontinue allowing groups to use buildings after school Operational expenses of elementary afterhours where school must pay for use of chillers, etc.
school care programs on school sites are
covered by fee revenue.
Charge all groups what it actually costs to use the school The facility use charge covers all salaries.
facilities.
Utility costs are considered appropriate by
facilities and are adjusted each year based on
local utility rates. Rent/user fees are
determined by user group status of the renter
and rates are based on the adverage size of
the area being used.
Raise fees for facility usage by community groups.
11/13/2008
a
Facility Use
11/13/2008
a
Facility Use
4/3/2009
3/27/2009
Facility Use
b
Finance
Buy a house in a nice area and sell enough raffle tickets Unless the Florida Legislature changes the
to raise $20 million; buy a nice car to raffle, etc.
statutes, this is not legal.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 33 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/15/2009
Finance
Reduce funding to charter schools.
The funding formula for charter schools is
mandated by the Florida Legislature.
1/16/2009
Finance
All functional expenditures are currently under
review to ensure appropriate budget balance.
2/12/2009
Finance
In the 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
(CAFR), some support items increased while student
population decreased. Please examine.
Consider an OCPS-backed bond system. Employees
would elect to have money deducted from their
paychecks now and the county would pay them back at
an agreed later date.
Suspend all Darden business cards and other
Foundation/Darden grants and ask that the monies be
given to OCPS for the deficits.
11/14/2008
Foundation for OCPS
2/16/2009
Foundation for OCPS
2/23/2009
Foundation for OCPS
Establish an alumni association from which OCPS can
receive support and donations.
Rethink sending birthday cards.
Such a financing structure is not currently
legal. If it was legal, collective bargaining
would be required.
The business card program is not funded by
Darden; it is funded via the Foundations'
unrestricted funds. Continuation of this
program has not been decided.The Darden,
Progress Energy, Bond Foundation, WaMu,
and Universal gifts are specifically given to the
Foundation with the donor's intent that they be
used to support teachers in the classrooms
with money for supplies, materials, and to
support innovative classroom projects. The
matching money we get from the state
(matched only when we raise the private
dollars, and very much in doubt for next year)
only goes into those same grant progams. We
may not do something different with those
gifts because of the stated intent of the donor.
Foundation staff has been discussing ways to
start an alumni association.
The birthday cards are actually a promotion
for the "License for Learning" education tag
that is paid from allocated marketing dollars
received from the DMV as part of the license
tag program. The Foundation receives $20
from every new or renewed tag in Orange
County, and we put that money directly into
our teacher grants programs.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 34 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/13/2008
a
General
Re-evaluate what all managers do.
12/30/2008
a
General
12/31/2008
a
General
Perform time study and process improvements for all
paper trails to ensure efficiencies and conformance are
being followed.
Create interdepartmental teams of stakeholders and nonstakeholders to analyze the processes and procedures in
every department and school. The teams would
evaluate all processes and procedures in order to
streamline, eliminate and/or combine them.
1/2/2009
a
General
11/11/2008
c
General
11/13/2008
c
General
12/29/2008
c
General
1/5/2009
c
General
11/11/2008
d
General
Have six representatives from OUTSIDE the school
system spend a designated day in January in area
schools: three in three elementary schools, two in two
middle schools and one in a high school. It's amazing
how outsiders can see weaknesses, inefficiency and
simplicity that insiders can't. Most often they'll ask
questions that no one else is asking.
Cut administrators, not teachers.
Administrator performance is evaluated every
year by superiors. Job responsibilities are
adjusted accordingly. Some positions have
been eliminated.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
School Advisory Committees must be 50% or
more "outsiders;" have ongoing contact with
schools and administrators; and are in best
position over extended periods of time to
clearly see areas for improvement.
School Advisory Committees must be 50% or
more "outsiders;" have ongoing contact with
schools and administrators; and are in best
position over extended periods of time to
clearly see areas for improvement.
Cuts affect all job classifications.
Administrators are too few to see dramatic
results.
Privatize custodian, busing, speech, and lawn services. The district has contracted speech therapy in
You won't have to pay them benefits.
the past and found the cost to be much
greater than hiring district therapists.
Consider eliminating assistant principals at elementary
The number of assistant principals in a school
schools and use deans instead.
is determined by the student population.
Deans cannot perform functions such as
evaluations.
Consider outsourcing various groups of employees or
Was done most effectively - but at a cost - to
services who are not directly in the classroom.
achieve 99% fill rate for substitute teachers in
classrooms. Specific suggestions are
welcome.
Create study for outsourcing of psychologists, therapists, Occupational and physical therapists are
cafeteria, custodial, lawn service, and athletic field
currently contracted services. The costmaintenance.
savings for other groups is not readily evident.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 35 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
d
General
11/12/2008
d
General
11/12/2008
e
General
11/21/2008
e
General
11/12/2008
f
General
11/21/2008
f
General
1/5/2009
f
General
11/13/2008
h
General
12/30/2008
h
General
Close down all learning communities.
One learning community has been eliminated.
OCPS has about 170,000 students and 177
schools. Providing support to that many
schools from monitoring student achievement
to dealing with parent concerns and student
discipline appeals could not be handled
efficiently and effectively by the
superintendent alone. The learning
community model helps parents and students
receive appropriate and timely attention when
concerns at the school level need to be
elevated.
Eliminate or reduce the number of learning communities. One is being eliminated.
Trade supplies online between schools and offices.
Someone's unused printer cartridge could be used at
another location.
Refill all printer ink cartridges in all district offices.
Supplies can be traded if not needed. Usually
supplies are only ordered when they are
needed.
Laser used only at ELC. No inkjet printers are
used.
Cut luxuries such as flat-screen TVs in reception areas. Televisions serve a vital purpose for overflow
board room meetings, public information and
training programs.
Small things add up. How much did the logo stickers cost Stickers and marketing campaign materials
for all of the OCPS vehicles? Check purchases of flatare not paid for with budgeted taxpayer
screen televisions.
dollars.
Oprah had much success with a penny drive. The effort Novel idea that could support a specific and
raised a huge sum of money.
appealing objective. Unfortunately not one that
can be banked on and budgeted on an
ongoing basis.
Sell ad space on buses, folders, school items.
Under consideration/will receive further review
where legal and practical; however, not a
stable and recurring revenue source that can
be budgeted.
Allow advertising on test cover sheets.
This is not considered appropriate as it may
distract students from the test. In addition, it
raises legal and ethical issues about putting
advertisement in front of students.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 36 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
p
General
All employees who need a cell phone should use a
personal one and take a deduction on their income tax.
The IRS is now enforcing regulations
regarding cell phones, and the OCPS policy is
in compliance with IRS regulations.
3/27/2009
p
General
Cancel all Blackberry and cell phone contracts.
This is under review.
11/11/2008
General
Email as much as possible instead of printing.
Emailing is done as much as possible. When
copying in bulk, orders are sent to the district's
print shop for more cost-effective practice.
11/11/2008
General
11/11/2008
General
11/11/2008
General
Cross train all classified employees when possible, i.e.
It is the practice in many departments that
receptionist could enter data, copy, process mail, support cross training is done, especially since there
more than one administrator, etc.
are fewer and fewer staff to handle all the
required responsibilities.
Stop delivery of the Orlando Sentinel for administrators. Reduction under consideration/will receive
further review.
Reduce the operating budget at the ELC.
Under evaluation with 7% reduction last year
and further reductions planned for this year.
11/12/2008
General
Use the expertise of our own employees instead of hiring A reduction is under consideration/will receive
consultants and review temporary staff.
further review. Consultants often have a skill
set and availability beyond staff.
11/12/2008
General
11/12/2008
General
11/12/2008
General
11/12/2008
General
Code of Conduct is necessary and required to
Take a line-by-line approach to the budget and keep
advise students and parents of their rights and
what's essential for student learning. It costs $137K to
print the Code of Conduct. We spend $460K on Connect-obligations to insure a safe school
ED.
environment. Connect-ED is a valuable and
efficient communication tool for schools and
district to reach parents without using more
paper and manpower to achieve similar
results. However, this is under review for
possible cost reduction.
Print on both sides of the paper. Stop using so much
Good idea and to be encouraged.
paper.
Offices should ensure that they share supplies and/or
Surplus property is available for any
resources instead of sending items to surplus.
department that chooses to use it.
Use Web-Ex for principal meetings.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 37 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/13/2008
General
Turn in county cars. Have employees get reimbursed for Several county cars have been turned in;
mileage.
some have special equipment installed such
as two way radios, etc., and are still in service.
11/13/2008
General
No pay raises for any employees.
11/14/2008
General
Have county offices in unused classrooms in schools.
11/19/2008
General
Track and analyze the spending accounts for each
Each department budget is analyzed annually.
department on a monthly basis and recognize those who Once a department budget is established, it is
show a reduction in such.
controlled through our data systems.
11/21/2008
General
Provide more bookkeeper training. Clerical errors cost
this district.
1/2/2009
General
Consider consolidating some departments such as
Procurement and Accounts Payable.
1/2/2009
General
Washington D.C's superintendent of schools is gaining a The D.C. superintendent's efforts are wellreputation for action and non-traditional methods.
documented for review. Many involved large
Perhaps OCPS could find a sponsor to underwrite her
sums of money.
coming here for three days or so to access what we're
doing and see how the two districts could work together.
1/5/2009
General
Before touching sports and students, cut peripheral
services (public relations, etc.).
Non-classroom programs and functions are
being reviewed before classroom cuts.
1/5/2009
General
Stop distributing the DVD, Your Child, Your Public
Schools .
1/5/2009
General
This DVD is provided to the district from the
state Department of Education at no cost to
the district.
This is not legal.
1/21/2009
General
Issue truancy tickets ($50) to students who are
unexcused from school. Students who can't pay can do
community service.
Review contracts of consultants. Do we really need all of Consultants often have a skill set and
them? Review use of temporary staff.
availability beyond staff. Consultants are often
supplied by the publishing companies.
Under consideration/will receive further
review.
Under serious consideration.
Training is required for all new bookkeepers
and any who are experiencing compliance
issues. It is also available regularly throughout
the year for all others who want additional
training.
Creates potential internal control weakness.
Does not create efficiencies in the process.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 38 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/22/2009
General
Allow advertising panels in the ELC parking garage.
Adults use this garage during the day and after hours for
events at the Amway Arena.
Allow individual schools to determine what to cut in their
budgets.
Implement the "right turn" policy for all vehicles and
buses. UPS has been very successful with this.
Freeze the district budget for classroom supplies, books
and equipment for $50 million.
1/26/2009
General
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
Unclear recommendation and cost-savings.
1/26/2009
General
1/27/2009
General
2/2/2009
General
Provide more information on DVD's instead of on paper
(such as copies of IEP's).
Electronic IEP's are being researched by the
Department of Education, State of Florida
2/16/2009
General
Adopt a zero-based budgeting system for the district to
ensure value for specific projects.
All budgets are reviewed annually. Specific
project budgets are established and
monitored. A true ZBB system has proven to
be too costly and cumbersome to implement.
2/16/2009
General
Stop trying to cut programs and services, and figure out
a way to raise the money needed.
2/16/2009
General
2/16/2009
General
3/2/2009
General
Look at non-classroom work processes to see where
there is a duplication of effort. Look to reduce nonclassroom labor by one-third.
3/3/2009
General
Have employees travel on roads other than toll roads;
consider eliminating transponders for toll roads.
Schools could not operate appropriately with
zero dollars for classroom supplies; however,
the state just granted flexibility to delay the
language arts textbook adoption. (There may
need to be further clarification in the general
session of the legislature.) Of the $15 million
in textbooks, OCPS is projecting $9 to $10
million to be moved from categorical to the
general fund, as was shared with the
Superintendent’s Budget Study Committee.
The district is looking at creative means to
raise funds; the state will also need to
consider revenue issues.
Have year-round schools that use the facilities all year, to This will not result in operating budget
house more students in less buildings.
savings, only capital.
Allow advertising on county vehicles.
All school budgets were reduced by 6% and
all non-school budgets were reduced by 7% to
begin 2008-09. Further reductions will be
necessary for 2009-10.
Toll roads are avoided when possible.
However there are times when it is necessary
to use toll roads to ensure timely service.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 39 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/16/2009
General
3/16/2009
General
3/19/2009
General
3/19/2009
General
3/19/2009
General
3/27/2009
General
Remove all county vehicles from employees except
where required (courier, tech repair, etc.).
Have all required certification courses for teachers and
administrators given either during pre-planning week or
create a "certification week" during summer break. This
will eliminate the need for substitute teachers. The
courses can be given at various facilities based on the
number of people enrolled.
Change the school day to 6.5 hours for 168 days (rather
than 180 days of 6 hours), then close schools for 12
additional days. Students would receive more hours of
instruction than currently required by state law.
Start school in September and run past July 1. Extra
time is given for possible economic recovery and the
voters have additional time to re-elect senators and reps
who are favorable to education or get a referendum on
the ballot for a penny tax or find additional alternatives to
the funding crisis.
The number of school days is mandated by
state statute. There is proposed legislation to
change "days" to "hours" in order to allow
flexibility.
The school calendar results as a collaboration
of various stakeholder groups that propose a
calendar that is approved by the school board.
One of the reasons for starting school as early
as the legislature allows is to allow students to
have as many instructional days as possible
before statewide assessment tests, AP and IB
exams. Dates for these tests are set
statewide or nationally. There is currently a
proposed bill before the legislature to increase
the sales tax by one cent for education.
Eliminate any and all programs for which we do not
All programs are being reviewed and matched
receive funding (not including mandated programs).
to the revenues received.
Set up OCPS accounts at every local bank possible and
let the media and public know they can make donations.
Ask local businesses to donate a percentage of their
sales to OCPS, and we will list them online as a
contributor to Saving our Schools.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 40 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/27/2009
General
Why are we paying to educate adults in the Orange
County Jail? Use that money to educate children or for
other adult ed programs in the vo-tech centers. TABE
testing is expensive.
4/1/2009
General
4/3/2009
General
Shorten the school day by 30 minutes and extend the
school year by 12 days. This would allow teachers to get
part-time jobs.
Re-engage dropouts, juvenile delinquents, teen parents
to school via partnerships with county, human services,
courts, etc. County can pay for social workers who reengage students, and district gets reimbursed for nonattendees.
Offer gifted classes through virtual school.
Providing classes through a virtual school
format might be one way to deliver costeffective services. The cost of initial
development and the instructor would need to
be budgeted.
Identify more grant sources to support and provide
Grant Department staff is constantly
supplies for the schools.
monitoring Web sites, researching grant
possibilities, communicating with staff, and
assisting in the preparation and submission of
the grant applications. The Department
brought in $134 million last school year and
will continue to pursue all possible sources.
1/17/2009
Gifted
11/19/2008
Grants
2/16/2009
Grants
11/13/2008
High Schools
The Florida Department of Career and Adult
Education supports career training and adult
education to inmates. The jail program is selffunded by Workforce Education and
generates revenue to pay the instructors and
purchase materials at no cost to the district.
The program does not take away any funding
from technical centers or other adult education
programs in the district.
Apply for a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation for $10-$20 million.
The Gates Foundation does not accept
unsolicitated grant requests. OCPS has to be
"invited" to apply for funds.
Switch back from 7 periods to 6. You save on "electives" Switch to 7 periods was made without
teachers.
additional costs because length of periods
were reduced slightly. The move also
improves the cost of implementing class size
standards.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 41 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
Instructional Software
11/13/2008
a
Insurance
12/19/2008
a
Insurance
12/31/2008
Insurance
1/17/2009
Insurance
1/22/2009
Insurance
1/26/2009
Insurance
1/27/2009
Insurance
2/23/2009
Insurance
Use FCAT Explorer instead of Simulated Math and
FCAT Explorer is used by our schools.
Reading programs since the same tools are available on
each.
Establish a sliding scale of payment for health insurance. Insurance is collaboratively bargained with the
Those in better health pay less.
unions and is established to spread risk over
the pool of individuals insured. Plan is
structured to encourage healthy behavior.
Differences in cost to employees could be
considered discriminatory.
Have employees pay insurance costs based on actual
The current structure provides a tiered pricing
number of people in their family being insured. Currently, structure based on the dependents covered.
employees pay the same amount whether they have no There is a limit on the increases based on the
dependents or 10 dependents.
number of dependents covered, otherwise
large families would be unable to afford
dependent coverage. Coverage with no
dependents does not cost the employee and
is board-provided.
Bid out the insurance contracts, especially worker's
We bid out all insurance contracts regularly.
comp. Rates have decreased substantially in Florida.
The contract for this area was bid at the end
of 2007-08 for implementation during 2009-10.
Ask the state to help consolidate all Florida public
employee insurance programs. A larger group may get a
better rate.
Save money by building clinics for employees and their
families for healthcare.
OCPS is self-insured and currently offers a
better program at a lower cost than
surrounding districts.
A pilot program is Under consideration/will
receive further review.
Eliminate the half-family insurance plans that are paid for
by OCPS.
Consider offering employee-only or full family coverage
and eliminate choices for half-family and spouse
coverage.
Provide health insurance through the union.
This is a collective bargaining issue that can
be shared with the team.
This is a collective bargaining issue that can
be shared with the team.
OCPS is self-insured, and manages a
program that exceeds surrounding districts
and most businesses in cost-containment with
over 22,000 employees. All employees are
not union members.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 42 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/1/2009
Insurance
Don't provide medical insurance to employees who can
get it somewhere else (like retired military).
All benefited, full-time employees must take
either our insurance or an alternative to our
insurance, if they already have medical
coverage. All of the monies go into the trust to
pay all of our claims, and this is what
insurance is about. Each year 20% of the
people use 80% of the resources. The 20% is
usually never the same people. We have all
benefited employees take insurance to
enhance the risk of our population. If only sick
people took our coverage the rates would be
much higher. Finally people who have
Medicare must take our insurance per
Medicare. If they do not take our insurance
and take an alternative, Medicare will not pay
the claim, noting that the person declined
employer insurance (thus making Medicare
primary).
Offer to pay 12-month employees for up to 10 days of
Previous surveys by bargaining units
unused sick leave per year if study proves this would be determined little interest in such a provision.
less expensive than paying at retirement.
Have employees pay part of health insurance ($20 per
This is subject to negotiation.
paycheck).
11/11/2008
a
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
a
Labor Relations/HR
11/14/2008
a
Labor Relations/HR
Offer a bonus to teachers who do not use sick or
personal leave for a school year.
This can be considered by the bargaining unit.
12/10/2008
a
Labor Relations/HR
This is a bargaining issue and may not save
funds.
12/29/2008
a
Labor Relations/HR
12/31/2008
a
Labor Relations/HR
1/2/2009
a
Labor Relations/HR
Allow classified employees to sign up and buy additional
vacation days and pay for it monthly via payroll
deduction.
Discontinue Temporary Duty leave for teachers. (Have
professional development after-hours to eliminate the
need for subs.)
Temporarily suspend the vacation accrual on all twelvemonth employees. Require that employees who accrue
vacation use at least 50% of what they normally accrue
in a given year. The result will be reduced/or no vacation
expense for the 2010 year.
Cut the number of sick days in half that are given to
employees.
This can be considered by the bargaining unit.
Furlough scenarios are being calculated and
shared with the budget committee. This would
require a policy change or collective
bargaining.
The Florida Department of Education
determines the number of sick days as per
state statute.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 43 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/7/2009
a
Labor Relations/HR
Eliminate the "birthday" holiday for employees.
This is subject to collective bargaining.
1/8/2009
a
Labor Relations/HR
Do not allow sick days to roll over.
This is a statutory requirement.
11/11/2008
b
Labor Relations/HR
Offer a buy-out to those close to retirement or near the
age of 60.
Buy-outs cost money and then take years to
realize savings. The cost of insurance would
be prohibitive. We will not pursue at this time.
11/11/2008
b
Labor Relations/HR
Re-employ retirees at basic pay or consider hiring nonexperienced teachers first because their pay is less.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
11/21/2008
b
Labor Relations/HR
Force DROP people to leave DROP or retire.
The current district policy is to not extend
DROP.
11/21/2008
b
Labor Relations/HR
Eliminate EVERYONE in the county who has retired and This does not appear to be a cost-savings
come back!!! Why pay a salary and retirement!
measure.
1/22/2009
b
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
Require that employees retire when they have 25 - 30+
years of experience.
Differential Pay should be renegotiated due to budget
shortfall; Assistance Plus & Title I Pilot (if still applicable);
Merit Awards for TOY; Audit Non-Athletic Supplements
for accuracy and consistency.
Consider a graduated pay cut for all employees if it will
save jobs.
11/11/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
11/12/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
11/19/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
Four day work-wk.(10 hr.) in lieu of raise for Classified.
(Some off Monday - some off Friday).
11/19/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
11/21/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
If teacher contract is reduced (no post-planning days),
have classified staff rotate on the two days that they
would not be paid. Saves jobs.
Negotiate with CTA to freeze salaries a second year with
the stipulation that NO school-based personnel,
instructional or classified, will laid off.
In lieu of bump and raise, credit employees additional
annual leave or floating holidays.
Have all administrators take a 2% to 5% pay cut.
The state determines retirement guidelines.
Labor Relations will take this under
advisement.
The budget committee has been provided
scenarios with reduced number of work days
per year for administrative employees.
This is subject to negotiation.
The budget committee has been provided
scenarios with reduced number of work days
per year for administrative employees.
Cost saving is not readily evident.
This is subject to negotiation. The budget
committee is being provided with furlough
scenarios.
Freezing salaries will not recover the large
deficit in funding that is projected. Also, this is
subject to collective bargaining.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 44 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/21/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
Ask employees to voluntarily take a pay cut to save jobs - Furlough scenarios are being presented to the
from 3-10%.
budget committee.
11/21/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
Eliminate all overtime.
12/5/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
12/18/2008
c
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
11/12/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
Ask all principals, assistant principals and teachers to
There are legislative mandates for physical
take a pay cut and eliminate art, music and P.E. in lieu of education and fine arts.
closing small schools.
Do away with all supplements.
The budget committee has been provided with
similar scenarios.
Cut support staff at ELC and at learning communities
Current practice is that district budgets are cut
before cutting them at schools.
more than school budgets.
Eliminate excess managers/directors/administrators from Current practice is that district budgets are cut
departments and place them in school instructional
more than school budgets. Management-topositions.
employee ratio is one of the lowest in the
state.
Streamline positions at district offices; eliminate
Current practice is that district budgets are cut
area/associate superintendent positions.
more than school budgets. Management-toemployee ratio is one of the lowest in the
state.
Less resource teachers and administrators at district
Current practice is that district budgets are cut
level.
more than school budgets. Management-toemployee ratio is one of the lowest in the
state. Several resource teachers are grantfunded.
Cut or make part-time the reading coaches and CRTs.
This is a school-based decision. Some of
these positions are grant funded and/or
mandated.
Current technology support reports could be pooled and This is an ICTS issue that can be researched.
contracted from an outside agency.
This would have a bargaining impact.
11/13/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
11/14/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
11/21/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
Outsource libraries to county library system -- transfer
jobs instead of losing them.
Cut staff who have the least amount of student contact
time.
Move itinerant workers from learning community to ELC
and reduce learning communities.
The district is currently monitoring the use of
overtime.
Cost saving is not readily evident.
This is a school-based decision.
This scenario is currently under advisement.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 45 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/4/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
Eliminate behavior coaches and use program assistants Behavior coach and program assistant
in their place.
positions are vastly different positions with
different education and certification
requirements. Behavior coaches are
experienced educators who are highly trained
in safe behavioral interventions. Their primary
job responsibility is to build capacity of a
school staff to effectively address the behavior
needs of all students on campus. Program
assistants are classified personnel trained to
support behavior plans for individual students
as developed by the behavior coach.
12/12/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
Share positions among schools: CRT, Media Specialist,
Tech/Resource/Coaches.
12/19/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
Consolidate the LRT, Testing Coordinator and Reading
Specialist into one position, or give to administration.
12/30/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
12/30/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
12/31/2008
d
Labor Relations/HR
1/2/2009
d
Labor Relations/HR
This is a school-based decision. Elimination of
some media specialists is Under
consideration/will receive further review.
Reading First coaches are required by the
grant to provide coaching, professional
development and mentoring. K-12 reading
coaches are based on categorical funding.
Eliminate ESE CRT positions at center schools. At these ESE CRT's at center schools are individual
sites ESE teachers have a team leader who is being paid school decisions.
a stipend for the position and is knowledgeable about all
things ESE.
Combine Staffing Coordinator, Guidance, and ESOL
This is a school-based decision. Some of
Compliance Teachers--they all schedule meetings with these positions are grant-funded and/or
parents to review academic and compliance services.
mandated. Elimination of some positions is
Under consideration/will receive further
review.
Consolidate office responsibilities among school clerical This is determined by job descriptions and
positions such as registrar, bookkeeper, etc., and at the collective bargaining.
ELC.
Have employees keep their classrooms clean to cut
This is determined by job descriptions and
budgets for custodians.
collective bargaining.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 46 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/12/2009
d
Labor Relations/HR
Stop paying a teacher salary to a person that is no longer This is a school-based decision. Some of
"teaching!" Hire a part-time/non-instructional person and these positions are grant funded and/or
pay a much smaller wage to people in charge of setting mandated.
up meetings, shuffling FCAT paper, monitoring for FCAT,
taking minutes during meetings, bus duty, lunch duty,
and administrating dibels tests four times a year!
1/15/2009
d
Labor Relations/HR
1/20/2009
d
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
Move all area Tech Support Reps and school Tech
Coordinators to ELC. Set up in six teams of 15 each.
Deploy to schools as needed; others answer help desk
call center questions.
Outsource ALL positions where employees earn
$100,000 or over. If there are one thousand of these
positions, that's $100,000,000!
Put all assistant principals on an 11-month contract. Vary
the months that they are off if there is more than one AP
at a school.
Convert 12-month classified positions into 11-month
positions during the slowest time of the year.
Reduce all 12-month employees from 261 to 251 days.
Days covered include Spring Break, Thanksgiving week
and the winter holidays.
Have more teachers teach six periods county-wide. This
saves from hiring additional teachers.
11/12/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
Shut down Magic Way during Thanksgiving and Winter
Break. Have 12-month employees take leave.
By doing this the Building Code Compliance
Office would be shut down and all construction
would stop for that time period.
11/12/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
Collective bargaining is required.
11/12/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
11/12/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
Have all elementary school secretaries and bookkeepers
work 10 months instead of 12 months.
Give employees time off instead of a raise. Shut down
the district for two weeks in the summer.
Have ALL 12-month employees move to 11-month
contracts.
11/12/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
Reduce all school psychologists to 11-month or reduce
to 10-month like teachers.
This is an ICTS issue and is Under
consideration/will receive further review.
Executive pay studies indicate salaries are
within or lower than market values.
Furlough scenarios are being presented to the
budget committee.
These are some of the times that most work is
performed in occupied schools.
These are some of the times that most work is
performed in occupied schools.
This is a practice being expanded.
Collective bargaining is required.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review for some administrative positions and
requires collective bargaining for others.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 47 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/13/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
Look at cutting hours of employees by 1/2 hour each day Furloughs are Under consideration/will receive
- significant savings district-wide.
further review for administrators; others
require collective bargaining.
Work with CTA and administrators to ask instructional
Furlough scenarios are being addressed with
and administrative staff to donate one hour a week of
the budget committee.
their pay to the district.
Make all employees 10 months. Stagger begin and end Furloughs are Under consideration/will receive
dates for some itinerants, thus covering the entire year, further review for administrators; others
including summer.
require collective bargaining.
Reduce pre-planning down to three days, thereby
This would require collective bargaining and
eliminating two paid days. Reduce post-planning to one statutory changes.
day, eliminating one paid day. Reduce all administrative
positions from 261 to 258 days.
ELC staff who support teaching activities should work
District resource teachers work the same days
only those days that teachers are scheduled to work.
as school-based teachers.
Have principals and assistant principals change to 11This is under consideration/will receive further
month contracts with exception of AP's who work with
review for AP positions; furloughs are being
instruction (to wrap up and prepare for academic year). considered for principals.
11/21/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
12/1/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
12/12/2008
e
Labor Relations/HR
1/16/2009
e
Labor Relations/HR
1/16/2009
e
Labor Relations/HR
1/12/2009
f
Labor Relations/HR
Consider job-sharing for teachers. The district saves on
health insurance, and some teachers get it from their
spouses. This provides more jobs for unemployed
teachers. Also saves on future recruiting expenses.
11/21/2008
g
Labor Relations/HR
11/13/2008
h
Labor Relations/HR
Perhaps some of the employees who work with some
This violates district policy, and cost-saving
offices like Title I could work from home, saving office
measures not evident.
space.
Offer more equitable pay to sign language interpreters -- Cost saving is not readily evident.
less turnover means less pay for substitutes.
11/13/2008
h
Labor Relations/HR
1/22/2009
j
Labor Relations/HR
Eliminate Kelly Services and go back to the previous
method for securing substitutes. Transfer enough staff to
handle that activity.
Require all administrators (curriculum and district) to
substitute three days a year.
Part-time positions are currently available.
This scenario is currently under study with
extensive transition plans.
Deploying staff members effectively is a
consideration, as is having them away from
their worksites in support of schools and other
district functions. Furloughs and staff cuts are
a possibility as well for this group of
employees.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 48 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/28/2009
j
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
Labor Relations/HR
11/12/2008
Labor Relations/HR
11/12/2008
Labor Relations/HR
11/13/2008
Labor Relations/HR
11/19/2008
Labor Relations/HR
12/1/2008
Labor Relations/HR
12/3/2008
Labor Relations/HR
12/5/2008
Labor Relations/HR
12/17/2008
Labor Relations/HR
12/17/2008
Labor Relations/HR
Require district employees who are certified teachers but Deploying staff members effectively is a
not in the classroom to serve as substitutes at least two consideration, as is having them away from
days per month.
their worksites 18 days per year in support of
schools and other district functions.
Furloughs and staff cuts are a possibility as
well for this group of employees.
Work four days a week. Saves Transportation, energy, Currently not permitted by Florida Department
maintenance costs, etc.
of Education.
All teachers (incl. coaches) should teach 5/6 or 6/7
This is a growing practice.
classes unless given specific duties such as department
chair, instructional coach, etc.
Athletic Directors should teach 4/6 or 5/7 classes; same This is a school-based decision under
for Athletic Trainer.
advisement.
Switch teachers to an 8.33 pay cycle with every 10th day This collective bargaining issue can be
off. Same number of instructional hours. Saves on bus, discussed.
electricity costs, etc.
Strive for individual productivity at 100%. A reduction in This is currently addressed in the district
errors combined with an increase in quality achieves cost goals.
savings in an indirect but certainly effective way.
Some teacher trainers lost their jobs, and OCPS spent
lots of money getting them trained. Hire them back
before hiring others.
Conduct a desk analysis for each job position to improve
productivity.
While the anniversary pins are nice, consider eliminating
them if it would save even one job.
Conduct a FMLA audit to determine gaps between
notification time and time taken. Employers are only
required to pay for benefits during the FMLA period and
may collect insurance premiums during other forms of
approved medical leave unless this is negotiated in the
contract.
Have all employees 'sign-in' and 'sign-out' in an
electronic manner. Eliminate cumbersome multi-page
sign-in sheets.
Have PREO only when there are 10 or more new
employees that can attend.
Instead of sending letters to employees, send emails.
Cost saving is not readily evident.
Cost saving is not readily evident.
This is not district funded.
FMLA guidelines are followed.
Cost saving is not readily evident.
Cost saving is not readily evident.
Email is the preferred method of
communication in the district when
appropriate.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 49 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/29/2008
Labor Relations/HR
House district resource teachers at schools. Results in
This is under consideration/will receive further
less overhead at ELC; teachers could lend supervisory review.
help when needed; model best practices more naturally;
and allow for less management staff at schools.
1/6/2009
Labor Relations/HR
Stop spending money on interview profiling such as
Ventures in Excellence.
1/12/2009
Labor Relations/HR
1/16/2009
Labor Relations/HR
1/21/2009
Labor Relations/HR
1/22/2009
Labor Relations/HR
1/26/2009
Labor Relations/HR
1/26/2009
Labor Relations/HR
1/27/2009
Labor Relations/HR
2/2/2009
Labor Relations/HR
Cost saving is not readily evident. Process of
identifying and selecting personnel must be in
place per state requirement.
When employees work at alternative sites during breaks, This is current practice.
they should be given assigned duties or required to take
time off.
When a position becomes vacant, consider hiring an
Benefits are required for positions working 30
hourly, non-benefited replacement to eliminate the cost hours per week or more.
of benefits.
Cut or make part-time the reading coaches and CRTs.
Reading coaches are funded either by the
Reading First Grant or the K-12, categorical
funding. Coach allocations are provided to
schools based on need. Some schools are
already sharing a 1/2 time coach with another
school.
Have administrators earn the same number of vacation Classified employees currently have the
days as classified employees.
opportunity to earn more days than
administrators.
Have merit pay raises instead of across-the-board pay
This is a collective bargaining issue that can
raises.
be shared with the team.
Pay teachers over a 12-month period instead of a 10This is a collective bargaining issue that can
month period so that you could draw additional interest be shared with the team.
on funds for payroll.
Come up with a streamlined process for placing Kelly
No immediate cost saving determined.
substitute teachers in OCPS temporary contracts. Some Depending upon the period of time between
have attended PREO multiple times.
temporary assignments, the district may be
required to follow compliance requirements
such as fingerprinting and drug testing. HR
will review practice.
Hire retired teachers as substitutes at the regular
Retired teachers earn $90 per day as
substitute pay.
substitutes instead of the $75 someone with a
Bachelor’s degree would earn. The pay
schedule for substitutes has not changed for
many years. It is appropriate to pay a
premium to have retired teachers working as
substitutes.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 50 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/3/2009
Labor Relations/HR
Rather than pay the hourly equivalent of a teacher's
This is a collective bargaining issue that can
salary for teaching summer school, pay each ESY
be shared with the team
teacher the same set rate regardless of years of service.
2/6/2009
Labor Relations/HR
2/12/2009
Labor Relations/HR
Decrease salaries by 7% across the board. Using the
$820M figure in the CAFR for 2008 salary expenditures
and adding benefits, this could result in more than $69
million dollars cut from the budget.
Cut teachers who are out-of-field before others.
2/16/2009
Labor Relations/HR
2/19/2009
Labor Relations/HR
2/19/2009
Labor Relations/HR
2/23/2009
Labor Relations/HR
2/23/2009
Labor Relations/HR
2/25/2009
Labor Relations/HR
Hire more substitute nurses for coverage in the
ESE/Center School Clinics and eliminate using outside
agency nurses. An OCPS nurse sub is less than 1/2 the
cost of using an outside agency nurse. OCPS Nurse
subs also work 1/2 days when needed; agency nurses
are full day only. There is no cost to OCPS to retain
nurses in a pool as they are per diem and receive no
benefits.
Ask all employees to take one day off without pay. The
school district in Oxford Hills, Maine, and Lynn,
Massachusetts did this. This could save about $2 million.
Non-administrative salaries are part of the
collective bargaining agreement. This may be
discussed with unions.
This is a collective bargaining issue.
Nursing services are a necessity for our
students. We always try to provide the best
for our medically involved students. Outside
agency nurses are used only in an emergency
situation.
This may be discussed with unions.
When our more seasoned teachers are placed in preK
This will be shared with the union.
the county can lose upto $18K per classroom. The union
needs to allow us to put restrictions on PreK teachers
with more than ten years of seniority for the next few
years.
Cut the substitute teacher pay by $5 per day.
Kelly Educational Services has already
decreased their fees to assist with the budget
crisis.
Partner with UCF to save money on substitutes. Offer
Unclear how UCF would be able to provide the
credit hours for subbing instead of money.
quantity and quality of subs needed to meet
the requirements of the district.
As teachers retire, replace them with "adjuncts" -This is a collective bargaining issue that can
independent contracts who do not receive benefits.
be shared with the team.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 51 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/3/2009
Labor Relations/HR
Like the airline industry, allow staff members the chance Unclear how this would save dollars. All
to voluntarily take off for one year before implementing
positions are tied to functions and duties.
furloughs.
When employees are not present, these
responsibilities are eliminated or reassigned.
In an effort to balance the budget the district
may need to eliminate positions, thus
eliminating responsibilities or reassigning
duties. Employees on leave would have a
reasonable expectation of returning to a job.
The district may not be in a position to
guarantee employment in subsquent years.
3/16/2009
Labor Relations/HR
Appeal to the state to allow broader certification areas.
3/19/2009
Labor Relations/HR
3/20/2009
Labor Relations/HR
3/20/2009
Labor Relations/HR
3/27/2009
Labor Relations/HR
3/27/2009
Labor Relations/HR
Teacher certification requirements are
governed by both federal and state laws. It is
not clear how broader certification rules will
save the district money.
Share some departments with the county government,
This could lead to co-employment issues
like Maintenance, HR, Real Estate, etc.
which is not recommended by HR.
Consider ending bonuses to AP teachers. Their job is to High schools receive money for AP. The
provide high quality instruction.
amount is calculated by an FTE formula and is
based on the number of students who score a
3, 4, or 5 on the AP exams. Bonus money for
AP teachers is taken out of the total amount
each school receives. The money is provided
by the state (as mandated by state law), not
the district. So there would be no savings to
the district budget. However, if the state cut
the funding for AP dollars, the district would
have to determine if and how the money could
be generated.
Instead of losing their jobs, have some teachers work as
part-time "floaters" in large, non-core classes to assist
the teacher of record.
Consider involuntary furloughs of paid holidays for all
employees with a year to year review to reinstate them
when times are better.
Allow more teachers to work part-time so they can share
jobs.
Not sure how this would save dollars, teachers
would still be on the payroll.
This would require a change by the Florida
Legislature, since there are state statutes that
deal with paid holidays.
The need for part-time positions is dictated by
school needs and is determined by the
principal. Job sharing does not save the
district dollars. No contractual limitations.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 52 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/27/2009
Labor Relations/HR
4/3/2009
Labor Relations/HR
11/11/2008
Legal
11/11/2008
Legal
2/11/2009
Legal
Have teachers teach 6 periods without a pay increase for
two years. Put it in the contract.
Hire bilingual program staff as replacements of regular
English-speaking staff, instead of adding bilingual
program staff. Use Title I dollars to pay for this type of
displacement.
Hire an in-house real estate attorney to save on
The school board has explored the benefits
contracted costs.
and costs associated with hiring an in-house
attorney devoted to real estate. The costs of
locating a highly skilled attorney were
outweighed by the economic benefits of using
outside counsel on an as-needed basis. The
school board has hired skilled real estate
acquisition and planning staff who have further
reduced the need for real estate legal
services.
File a lawsuit for unfunded mandates from the DOE.
We have communicated with legislators on
this issue.
Request Orange County Comptroller's Office to perform Regular audits are currently performed by the
operational and financial audits of the district, including Office of the Auditor General, Ernst & Young.
Facilities and Transportation.
Each capital project is reviewed by Carr,
Riggs & Ingram.
Press state to redistribute funds, suspend some laws
Legislators are receiving such communication.
such as virtual K-8, recurring adoption of textbooks, Nat'l
Board expenses, A+ funds.
Petition the legislature to go to a four-day week for
The state Commissioner of Education has
schools (or just high schools) and extend the school day. turned down such requests.
Shut down all buildings on Fridays, including the ELC.
11/11/2008
Legislative
11/11/2008
Legislative
11/12/2008
Legislative
Appeal the Class Size Reduction Amendment.
11/19/2008
Legislative
Recommend a new legislative bill that will provide a
higher tax break to businesses who donate money for
school supplies and for any other related donations.
11/21/2008
Legislative
11/21/2008
Legislative
Amend the law that requires smaller classes for ESOL
students.
Every builder should be required to provide schools in
their developments.
Legislative efforts are underway regarding this
constitutional amendment which voters
approved.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
ESOL classes are governed by the class size
amendment.
Extensive requirements are in place to provide
capacity prior to construction of homes.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 53 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/21/2008
Legislative
Get the state to give us some a special ruling allowing us
to use the Capital Gains funds for more than just
building.
Change law to allow capital dollars to be used for
operating expenses when there is a decline in enrollment
and new facilities are not needed immediately.
12/1/2008
Legislative
12/1/2008
Legislative
Have parents pay tuition; other states do it.
12/12/2008
Legislative
Modify Orange County property tax bills to include a
voluntary contribution option for OCPS. Consider also a
direct mail solicitation. If needed, form a 501C(3)
foundation so that the contribution is tax-deductible.
12/12/2008
Legislative
12/30/2008
Legislative
1/2/2009
Legislative
1/5/2009
Legislative
1/6/2009
Legislative
1/20/2009
Legislative
3/16/2009
Legislative (county)
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
Recommendations have been provided to
legislative delegation.
There is no provision for this in state statutes.
Will investigate feasibility of this
recommendation with the Property Appraiser
as well as the Tax Collector. The Foundation
for OCPS is a 501-c-3 and is the school
district's charitable arm.
Ask the state to add a voluntary contribution line for the Will investigate feasibility of this
county school system in which the car is registered. The recommendation with the Tax Collector.
state can collect and disburse back to the appropriate
school district.
Enact real-time tough consequences for truants like in
This is under consideration.
Midland, Texas, where a circuit judge has improved the
attendance rate by +5% . He holds the child personally
responsible and has even placed GPS units on severe
truants. Less truants, more kids in class, more funds
from the state.
Use national standardized tests instead of the FCAT.
The state indicates a long-term commitment
Work with the legislature to allow this.
to the FCAT.
Put pressure on Tallahassee to increase the sales tax on Efforts are currently in place.
cigarettes and alcohol, with the revenue going to
education.
Double the school property tax rate. Insist that all Lotto Would require action by state legislature and
proceeds be spent on education. Eliminate federal
by Congress.
income tax for teachers.
Ask the legislature to initiate a sales tax on theme parks Ideas to increase revenue for the state have
to be payable to OCPS, or a tax on cigarettes and
been shared with legislators. Individuals can
alcohol.
also make suggestions to their
representatives.
The Florida Legislature controls the amount of
Tax every residential and business property $150 per
residential and commercial property taxes
unit, per year -- a one-time event. This will make up a
levied. The taxes can be increased for one
material portion of the shortfall.
year or more.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 54 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/19/2009
Legislative (county)
3/19/2009
Legislative (county)
12/30/2008
Legislative/Finance
Instead of focusing on cost cutting, include a tactic to
Efforts are under way.
obtain the funding from the state that was promised from
two elections ago. My taxes have not been reduced as a
result of Amendment 1; therefore all applicable taxable
properties are to be providing tax revenue to support the
schools. The board and the committee needs to focus
at least half of its efforts or more on assuring the funding
is maintained, not reduced.
12/30/2008
Legislative/Finance
1/7/2009
Legislative/Finance
Have a special vote to raise the sales tax by 1/2 cent in
Orange County. It would go from 6.5% to 7% and that
extra 1/2% would go directly to the school district.
Seminole County is already at 7%.
Work with the state to allow capital (construction) dollars
to be used for operating expenses.
2/18/2009
OCCPTA
Hold a special vote in Orange County to allow the half
cent sales tax created for construction and refurbishment The authority of OCPS to move capital funds
to be used for general district spending, in order to offset to operating is spelled out in statute.
Generally, it is for portable rentals, equipment,
cuts.
and maintenance of school plants. As of
January we can now use up to $100 per
student for property and casualty insurance.
These funds can also be used for ERP
software for required state reporting. The
legislature could authorize local sales taxes
for operations but have not done so. A special
election is very expensive and can not be paid
with district operating dollars.
Increase the county property tax millage rates devoted to The Florida Legislature controls the amount of
education. With property values so far down and as a
residential and commercial property taxes
result tax revenues being down, we need to increase the levied. The taxes can be increased for one
points for dollar paid for schools in property taxes.
year or more.
Ask the Orange Co. Council of PTAs to coordinate two
fundraising events for the county: a weekend golf
tournament (plenty of big name golf pros in the
community) and a gala dinner all underwritten and paid
for by sponsorships allowing entrance fees to be used to
raise money for our schools.
Would require action by state legislature.
Current use of sales tax funds are restricted
by law to use for capital purposes.
Proposal provided to legislative delegation
regarding limited use of capital funds for
certain defined operational costs.
Shared with OCCPTA.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 55 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
Operations
11/11/2008
Operations
11/11/2008
Operations
Close schools for two weeks in June and two weeks in
July.
Courier could run two times per week to schools and
other locations (daily at ELC); sites would adjust and be
more organized and productive.
Cut back on night cleaning crew.
11/11/2008
Operations
Recycle broken furniture by repairing it or selling it.
11/11/2008
Operations
12/30/2008
Operations
2/23/2009
Operations
When taking or picking up county vehicle for
maintenance, use a vehicle that needs fuel so that trips
are combined/saved.
Take advantage of major cost-savings programs like
those used in industry and have industry come in and
assist for FREE. Suggest things like Lockheed Martin
and their proven Kaizen events where a specific
area/team/process is studied rapidly resulting in lowered
costs of significant size!
Allow or mandate ELC employees to "purchase" a
parking space in the garage each fiscal year. Use the
funds to offset Admin. Operations budget so funds can
be open for use elsewhere.
11/11/2008
Operations/Food Srv
Have a switch to turn off the serving coolers that are
needed four hours a day but run all day.
Closings are currently a part of the budget
cutting plans.
Courier is being reviewed to reduce the
number of deliveries per week.
The night custodial crew for the ELC is an
outside contractor. The amount of the
contract is being reviewed and a request to
lower the cost is being discussed.
This is done when feasible.
Unable to coordinate or determine savings.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
Allowing ELC employees to purchase a
parking space could be considered;
mandating isn't. Orlando Tech also uses the
garage for students and staff. Students
purchase parking permits for those that
choose to drive based on the fact that bus
transportation is provided and driving is a
privilege. Employees are not provided
transportation to work each day. Additionally,
contractual language with the CTA says that
free, off-street parking will be provided.
Coolers must be on to maintain safe
temperatures.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 56 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
Operations/Food Srv
Increase meal prices.
11/11/2008
Operations/Food Srv
Have only one choice available for lunch.
11/12/2008
Operations/Food Srv
11/12/2008
Operations/Food Srv
11/12/2008
Operations/Food Srv
11/12/2008
Operations/Food Srv
11/12/2008
Operations/Food Srv
With the current economy, an increase of
meal prices would only cause parents to
reduce the number of times their children
would participate. The school board
increased meal costs this year and may
consider an additional cost at the elementary
level for the 2009-2010 school year.
YTD food cost is currently at 41.5% meeting
the national average for running a good
program. Currently offer 2- 3 entrees.
Regulations require 5 components be offered
daily.
Consider outsourcing the school food service operation. Independent School Food Service focuses on
returning revenue to the program and
community. Outsourcing returns "profits" to
their business. All expenditures of running the
program are paid by the revenues generated
by the program. In addition, there are costs
that still must be incurred by the school board
regarding applications, verification, site
reviews that cannot be completed through an
outsourcing resource. The district looked
closely at this idea. An oversight group made
up of external people suggested that we
maintain the program due to the efficiency
noted.
Check the need for Earth America to clean the grease
traps. Is this a necessity since we do not use fryers in
kitchens anymore?
Eliminate separate lunch offerings and separate hot bars
for staff at school. Provide separate eating area.
Purchase only reusable food trays.
Item can be investigated.
Majority of schools do not offer separate hot
bars for staff. Will investigate.
Study was made regarding the use of
reusable trays, additional labor, cost of dish
machines, maintenance and chemicals and
results indicated a cost savings to use
disposal items.
Get rid of all disposable containers in the cafeterias. Just Will investigate feasibility of using less.
scoop the food once on the plate.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 57 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
Operations/Food Srv
Re-evaluate how food is packaged. Lots of money spent Will investigate feasibility of using less.
on foam trays, then individually packaging almost
everything served.
Cut down on lunch choices for middle schools from four YTD food cost is currently at 41.5% meeting
to two or three.
the national average for running a good
program. Currently offer 2- 3 entrees.
Regulations require 5 components be offered
daily.
Compost food waste and recycle. Use student
Currently working with the dairy council
involvement.
regarding a recycling program.
11/12/2008
Operations/Food Srv
11/13/2008
Operations/Food Srv
11/13/2008
Operations/Food Srv
Eliminate OCPS logo plastic lunch bags.
11/13/2008
Operations/Food Srv
11/14/2008
Operations/Food Srv
Build community gardens to supplement food cost, which Transportation, sanitation and safety issues
promotes healthier students.
are major obstacles. Recent recalls of food
demonstrated the need for close monitoring of
all food prepared.
Consider outsourcing cafeterias. Aramark has about 420 Independent School Food Service focuses on
schools; there are other vendors. Sodexo has half of the returning revenue to the program and
Chicago public schools.
community. Outsourcing returns "profits" to
their business. All expenditures of running the
program are paid by the revenues generated.
12/1/2008
Operations/Food Srv
12/12/2008
Operations/Food Srv
12/30/2008
Operations/Food Srv
The breakfast and lunch menu needs to have less
background. When printing or copying them, too much
toner and ink is used.
Brown bag school lunches. Save food waste and cost of
running cafeterias. Lunches can still be healthy!
Verify that those who receive free/reduced meals are
actually eligible since they get discounts for Extended
Day and other services.
Item can be investigated.
This has been changed to a printer-friendly
format for elementary students.
Federal Reimbursement of over $40 million
dollars would not be provided to OCPS. Over
95,000 free/reduced family applications have
been processed to date. Currently, the
program is showing a revenue in excess of
expenditure of $494,458.
A verification process that meets federal
guidelines is already in place. Duplicated
efforts would increase costs. (The Extended
Day scholarship program for economically
eligible families is provided by fee-supported
revenue and is not a district budget
expenditure.) There is no savings for the
district.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 58 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/30/2008
Operations/Food Srv
Institute a "fat tax" on all items sold at school. Add tax
on items that are considered unhealthy or not part of the
four basic food groups. Take half of the tax to lower the
prices on healthier foods and the other half toward
budget cost savings.
There is a district nutrient guideline for all
foods sold on school campus. The "fat tax"
could be allowed for items sold for a la carte
but it would not be allowed on any item that
comes through OCPS Food & Nutrition
Services as "mark up" for any reason other
than labor and storage are not allowed. FNS
cannot give an estimate of this revenue, this
would have to be done at each school.
1/7/2009
Operations/Food Srv
Allow outside companies such as Subway, Chik-Fil-A,
etc. to bid and deliver food to middle and high school
cafeterias.
In order to be funded by the USDA, meals
must follow "reimbursable guidelines" which
have strict nutrient and component guidelines.
While these companies might be able to meet
those, they would need to meet the amount
reimbursed by USDA which is about $2.56.
This includes 8 oz. milk.
1/7/2009
Operations/Food Srv
Don't force students to take milk at lunchtime. Many of
the cartons end up in the trash, unopened.
Milk should never be forced, but it certainly
should be encouraged if the student wants to
drink the milk. It is a USDA Regualtion that all
students are offered at least two different fat
levels of milk.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 59 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/20/2009
Operations/Food Srv
For school lunches, buy food that needs to be cooked
instead of microwaved. Pre-processed food costs more
and has less servings than fresh bulk.
The District Food Service Program does not
microwave food for students. What you're
probably referring to is that we purchase the
finished product. Pre-processed food means
that the food has been assembled and precooked before it reaches our kitchens. There
are 2 main reasons that we do this. First,
introducing raw food into any kitchen
increases the possibility of salmonella into the
kitchen. For this reason, no raw food is
allowed now into OCPS kitchens so we make
decisions to be as cautious as possible.
Secondly, manufacturers have the speed and
equipment to assemble products much faster
than our employees, so we are leveraging the
labor costs to where they will be the most
efficient and consistent. Many fine restaurants
do this too. Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden,
Disney, makes things in bulk and send to their
restaurants. Also, our conversations with our
OCPS customers (students) indicate they
want their food to taste the same all of the
time. Chicken parmesean has the same
sauce each time it is served.
1/26/2009
Operations/Food Srv
2/18/2009
Operations/Food Srv
School-based food service managers are
accountable for their own ordering.
We will consider this as an option. Great idea.
3/6/2009
Operations/Food Srv
Have food service managers at schools accountable for
placing their own orders.
Turn the cafeterias into revenue generators. Since
schools allow only store-bought items to be brought in for
class parties, allow parents to purchase cakes, cookies,
etc., from the school cafeteria.
Have any school kitchens turn off all refrigeration
(coolers, reach-ins, walk-ins, freezers) and hot water
heaters that are closed for the summer. If there is
leftover food, transfer to a central kitchen for summer
school or other summer food service.
That is a very good idea. FNS will work on the
procedure to do this.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 60 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/16/2009
Operations/Food Srv
Sell advertising space on cafetreria trays. You can limit
the type of vendor to educational, i.e. publishers (if a new
book is coming out they can advertise for that book), etc.
This is currently being considered at airports for the gray
bins on the security lines. While this is not a cost
savings, it can become a significant source of revenue.
3/18/2009
Operations/Food Srv
Rent out or offer Evening Dinner Prep - Cooking Classes
(make/take/freeze meals) at select cafeterias (wherever
there are evening schools). Offer the meals as an
assembly-type business for dual profit; or could be done
in concert with service organizations for feeding the
community or as fund-raisers.
3/19/2009
Operations/Food Srv
4/3/2009
Operations/Food Srv
Eliminate snack bar service at schools. Provide only hot
lunches to reduce the number of serving staff.
Have school lunch menus run on a regular cycle to
eliminate printing menus monthly.
Better use of good surplus inventory; be sure
This will be done.
departments know about Surplus Store.
Combine all parent training services under one umbrella Title I, SAFE and ESE provide the majority of
and possibly use parent volunteers to help run it.
our parent training dollars and services, as
required under those federal grant dollars.
They are categorical funds which could not be
considered as a savings nor moved to cover
other expenses.
Print and attach the W-2 forms to the last paycheck stub Considered, but overtime costs exceed cost of
in January instead of mailing them separately.
current process.
Send pay stubs to employees electronically via email,
Currently implementing SAP module to permit
eliminating the printing costs.
electronic stubs. Planned to be in place by end
of current fiscal year.
Consider eliminating the added expense of Kronos
More expensive not to use Kronos in
software that is used in some work locations and have all Transportation.
payroll data entry in SAP only.
Have a certified payroll professional audit the payroll
Most overpayments are the result of incorrect
system to ensure there are no overpayments.
time reporting. Mandatory training is being
provided when necessary.
11/12/2008
1/27/2009
Operations/Surplus
Parent Training
11/11/2008
Payroll
12/1/2008
Payroll
12/31/2008
Payroll
2/25/2009
Payroll
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 61 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/3/2009
Payroll
Consider outsourcing payroll. Pay for services rendered Parts of the payroll process are outsourced.
rather than employees who come with benefits.
Remainder has been reviewed and is not cost
effective to outsource. Will continue to monitor
for possible efficiency opportunities.
11/11/2008
Payroll/Kronos
11/11/2008
Payroll/Kronos
Exception Reports for Kronos Time clock use needs to
go electronic. Handle by email.
Implement the Kronos Time Clock for all employees at
the ELC. It's used at Transportation and Magic Way.
11/11/2008
Procurement
11/12/2008
Procurement
11/13/2008
Procurement
11/14/2008
Procurement
Change bid process to include small jobs costing under
$500.
11/21/2008
Procurement
Consider having contracts in place for all
NOT FEASIBLE - This has been explored and
materials/equipment used by a newly constructed school; determined that the coordination and liability
GC gets paid for labor only. Materials invoices go directly on OCPS would counter any savings.
to OCPS.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
Centralize procurement for big-ticket school items (band IMPLEMENTED/INVESTIGATING instruments, uniforms, textbook orders, buses for field
Procurement does bid band instruments and
trips, etc.)
uniforms. We currently buy most books off of
the state contract, but are researching other
options.
Bring in rebates to the district by speeding up the use of INVESTIGATING
e-Payables throughout the district.
Change rules such that schools can purchase items
NOT FEASIBLE - Work locations can use
wherever they are least expensive (Wal-Mart, for
their P-card to purchase items from various
example).
vendors. When you compare pricing from a
bid you must consider delivery costs and
warranties. All bid items include both.
Walmart does not deliver, therefore staff must
pick up items. This time is costly and there is
the potential liability of insurance to cover staff
members driving to the store to pick up items.
If these items are factored into a cost
comparison, it is not a cost effective method.
IMPLEMENTED - Most of our service
contracts include all jobs regardless of size.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 62 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/4/2008
Procurement
The bid process is cumbersome. Whenever possible
IMPLEMENTED - The majority of bids for
and when not in violation of state statues, facilities
facilities are with local vendors.
personnel should be able to purchase items locally to
strengthen the economy as well as show fiscal
responsibility if the purchase can show a cost reduction.
12/19/2008
Procurement
Eliminate the practice of purchasing all new FF&E for a INVESTIGATING
school when it undergoes a comprehensive renovation.
Currently, if additional building/s are added with new
furniture, they also replace all furniture in the old section
of the school to be "fair". All "old" furniture is then sent to
Surplus and sold at a loss.
12/19/2008
Procurement
2/5/2009
Procurement
2/16/2009
Procurement
Re-evaluate the Audio Enhancement classroom
amplification bid. There are other vendors that have less
expensive equipment.
Evaluate vendor contracting for Fire Alarm Test and
Inspections, Fire and Security Monitoring, and Fire and
Security Equipment Maintenance.
Purchase your own construction materials to avoid
paying sales tax on the items.
2/16/2009
Procurement
When making purchases of furniture and fixtures, buy
what will last instead of what is cheap.
2/16/2009
Procurement
2/25/2009
Procurement
2/25/2009
Procurement
Instead of purchasing new furniture for replacement
schools, pay a crew to disassemble and clean existing
furniture.
Centralize all spending at the county level. Negotiate
contracts with companies to provide services to all
schools at a reduced rate vs. current method of each
school doing individual contracts which are more
expensive.
Use a store brand of paper in copiers/printers.
INVESTIGATING - This bid will expire in May
2009 and will be re-bid.
There are several vendors under contract for
these services. At this time we do not have
any vendor complaints on file.
Implemented. We already buy materials
directly through the ODP (Owner Direct
Purchase) program.
Implemented. We currently have
specifications for major furniture purchases
that are reviewed annually.
Investigating. We are currently reviewing a
new process for FFE specific to replacement
and comprehensive projects.
Implemented. The centralization of contracts
was implemented this past Summer and has
been successful.
We have a standard specification for paper.
We specify 12 brands of copy paper.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 63 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/16/2009
Procurement
Many of OCPS's specs limit competitive bidding. Look
for high quality equivalent providers to provide
competitive prices. Door hardware is one example.
11/11/2008
Procurement &
Insurance
Prof. Development
11/11/2008
Prof. Development
Work with other districts to negotiate health insurance to INVESTIGATING
increase volume buying power.
Cancel the preplanning event at the Convention Center. This event was fully funded by sponsors and
vendors but has been cancelled.
More online learning -- webinars, etc.
This is currently being researched.
11/11/2008
Prof. Development
11/12/2008
Prof. Development
11/12/2008
11/11/2008
The majority of our bids contain specifications
for products that meet the needs of our end
users and provide competition. A single
manufacturer for door hardware was approved
by our Board many years ago in order to have
standardized parts for replacement.
Cut down on travel to conferences or go to local events
only.
Eliminate all training that requires outside consultants or
the use of substitute teachers.
Travel is being decreased unless grantfunded.
Professional development decreases are
currently being planned.
Prof. Development
Eliminate the little goodies given out in workshops, etc.
Cut out the little things that come at a big expense.
Professional development decreases are
currently being planned.
11/12/2008
Prof. Development
This would need to be collectively bargained.
11/13/2008
Prof. Development
11/13/2008
Prof. Development
11/19/2008
Prof. Development
12/4/2008
Prof. Development
Eliminate the early Wednesday and increase the number
of staff development days accordingly. This would save
on money for subs.
Create a cap on the number of prof. development days
that teachers can have.
For next two years, have prof. development done by
teachers at their own schools.
Move training departments (PDS & Curr.) into the old
Audubon/or shopping center where there is plenty of
parking; don't rent space.
Reduce/eliminate most out-of-county travel.
1/2/2009
Prof. Development
Eliminate Great Beginnings training for teachers.
1/6/2009
Prof. Development
Have 1-2 schools host professional development for
surrounding schools on designated Wednesday
afternoons rather than pay guest speakers to go to
multiple schools.
Professional development decreases are
currently being planned.
Professional development decreases are
currently being planned.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
This is currently being planned.
Orientation for new teachers is considered
critical.
Professional development decreases are
currently being planned.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 64 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/17/2009
Prof. Development
Schedule all workshops for teachers on teacher
workdays to reduce cost of substitutes.
Professional development decreases are
currently being planned.
11/12/2008
Pupil Assignment
11/13/2008
Pupil Assignment
Rezone to save millions by using a community school
model.
Review "opportunity" scholars. If they skip school, have
discipline issues, etc. - do not allow the transfer.
The school board would need to consider
such an effort.
This is required by the state, which sets the
guidelines.
11/14/2008
Pupil Assignment
11/21/2008
Pupil Assignment
11/21/2008
Pupil Assignment
12/8/2008
Pupil Assignment
12/8/2008
Pupil Assignment
12/19/2008
Pupil Assignment
12/19/2008
Pupil Assignment
12/19/2008
Pupil Assignment
Change some school zones to increase efficiency - For The school board would need to consider
example, children in the Chalfont subdivision (Chalfont
such an effort.
Drive) of Hunter's Creek are bused to West Creek
Elementary, approximately 2.7 miles away.
REZONE the ENTIRE district. How many students take The school board would need to consider
a bus to a school, when they are really in walking distant such an effort.
of another school?
Send children to the closest zoned school to eliminate
The school board would need to consider
having to transport wherever possible.
such an effort.
Close Evans and move students to Edgewater, since the The school board would need to consider
enrollment is down, and to other nearby schools.
such a strategy.
I've often driven by Dr. Phillips Elementary and wondered The school board would need to consider
why students have to be in portables when there are
such a strategy.
empty classrooms in Sand Lake. Consider rezoning the
Dr. Phillips area to remove the portables.
Rather than closing schools, consider keeping open the
schools that we already own and redistribute the school
populations to eliminate portables that we rent. It would
decrease the loss of instructional time from being moved
during severe weather.
Allow Seniors to go to East River rather than Timber
Creek if they choose. This will eliminate the number of
buses passing by one school to go to another school that
is farther away from the student's home. Give the
seniors a choice to attend Timber Creek only if they
provide their own transportation. This would work with
Lake Nona as well.
Centralize registration within learning communities; have
two staff members to handle this. Families only have to
go to one location if they have children in different school
levels.
Have to evaluate each situation for costbenefit. Smaller schools are more expensive
to operate per student but that has to be
evaluated against cost of portables and
transportation.
The school board would need to consider
such a strategy.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review. The problem is that issues such as
transfers extend beyond the learning
community.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 65 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/31/2008
Pupil Assignment
Obtain waiver for court mandate on racial and economic Unitary Status is a legal matter under review.
balance. Using community schools would eliminate
unnecessary and expensive busing by reducing number
of buses, drivers, maintenance, and fuel expensives.
1/26/2009
Pupil Assignment
2/23/2009
Pupil Assignment
3/19/2009
Pupil Assignment
Close Jones and Evans and move students to
Edgewater.
Rezone Dr. Phillips, Sand Lake and Bay Meadows
elementary schools to even out student population and
remove portables.
Require fees for all transfer requests.
12/30/2008
Real Property
12/30/2008
Real Property
1/9/2009
Real Property
1/9/2009
Real Property
2/11/2009
Real Property
2/12/2009
Real Property
Transfer staff from ELC to schools that are being shut
down. Keep older buildings that were planned for
demolition if needed. Rent out ELC space.
Rent out classrooms during summer as "annex" college
campuses that can offer accelerated semesters.
The school board would need to consider
such a strategy.
We will consider rezoning as needed.
Currently not an authorized fee. May be
reviewed for future legislative consideration.
A central, available location has not been
located. The ELC is a fully utilized facility.
OCPS works with colleges and universities
and does partner when these schools have
such programs which may benefit the school
district.
Sell/lease the ELC and rent space cheaper space
A central, available location has not been
vacated by companies going out of business.
located. The ELC is a fully utilized facility.
Use the vacant Audubon Elem. site as a VPK. No
The district is currrently evaluating alternative
busing, use state money to fund.
uses for vacant sites which will reduce the
rental of space. Programs will be determined
which provide the most benefit to the school
district.
Sell the Tampa Avenue facility where the Activity
Various alternatives are Under
Resource Center resides.
consideration/will receive further review for
use of empty buildings/schools. These
include use as a swing-school, use as an
administrative site to avoid paying lease costs
elsewhere, and possibly leasing these out to
other organizations.
Sell the highly sought-after land in Windermere for the
The district reviews land determinations with a
West Orange High Relief School. OCPS can acquire less Real Estate advisory committee which is
expensive land in Horizon West.
comprised of area experts to ensure sound
decisions are made. This particular site is
currently planned for a future relief high
school.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 66 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/23/2009
Real Property
Rent out unused school space to UCF or Valencia.
2/25/2009
Real Property
Do land-leases on empty buildings/schools to generate
revenue.
Real Property/Pupil
Assignment
Close Oak Ridge and divide its students between the
four closest schools.
11/11/2008
Records/Forms
Order transcripts online and provide a credit card to
order; centralize this process and mail transcript or pick
up at ELC.
11/11/2008
Records/Forms
3/3/2009
Records/Forms
Combine forms - Request for Leave of Absence and the
actual Certificate of Absence.
Put all student records on CD in PDF format. This will
save on paper, cumulative records supplies and space
for storage.
Allow companies to put their names on high schools for
$1 million, with smaller fees for middle and elementary
schools.
Re-examine the budget at more than one public meeting.
When the public realizes how badly the schools are
being cut, they are more likely to contact their legislators.
3/6/2009
12/30/2008
School Board
12/31/2008
School Board
Various alternatives are Under
consideration/will receive further review for
use of empty buildings/schools. These
include use as a swing-school, use as an
administrative site to avoid paying lease costs
elsewhere, and possibly leasing these out to
other organizations.
Various alternatives are under
consideration/will receive further review for
use of empty buildings/schools. These
include use as a swing-school, use as an
administrative site to avoid paying lease costs
elsewhere, and possibly leasing these out to
other organizations.
A School Board hearing approved a rule
making determination whereby students
zoned for Oak Ridge High School, the new
Lake Nona High School and others in
surrounding areas have already been divided
among these. There is no cost benefit
associated with closing Oak Ridge High
School.
Not all of our customers have access to
services for ordering online transcripts, nor do
many customers have credit or debit cards.
This is under review.
A series of work sessions are held with the
Board each year before the required two
public hearings. Several presentations are
being made to the community in various
forums to discuss the current budget issues.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 67 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/22/2009
School Board
Stop courier service to board members; have them pick
up their information or send electronically.
Lower the salary or give up the salary.
2/25/2009
School Board
3/19/2009
School Board
12/4/2008
School Choice
12/30/2008
School Choice
1/6/2009
School Choice
1/8/2009
School Choice
Since the magnet programs are equal to and in some
Florida law does not allow the school district to
cases better than private school programs, have parents charge for instruction.
who are interested in these programs split the tuition or
pay an application fee and costs for teaching supplies,
textbooks, lab fees, and technology fees.
1/28/2009
School Choice
Consider allowing charter schools to lease space in
unused OCPS schools/space.
Since there are more elementary schools than high
schools and middle schools. Change the elementary
school time to 9:20. This will cut some of the need for
before- and after-school care. This way middle and high
school students will be able to care for their elementary
siblings.
Print the magnet program information in a lessexpensive format (not four-color).
The board has discussed this possibility.
School start times are currently being studied
by the Transportation Task Force, and
recommendations will be forwarded to the
School Board by the end of April.
Four colors were not used this year in the
production of the magnet brochure. The
pages were printed in black and white with a
two-color cover. For further savings this
suggestion can be implemented for 2009-10.
Consider allowing schools to have only one magnet
program.
These programs offer content and elective
courses that students would need to be
offered in the master schedule. Some of
these offerings may be cut by the school as
part of the master schedule reduction.
Since you re-distributed the AYP (adequate yearly
Federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law
progress) students this year, the returning AYP students does not permit the re-transferring of AYP
should also be re-distributed. This would prevent
students. Once the NCLB transfer has been
sending a bus across town with 5-6 students on it. All
assigned the student is allowed to stay at the
the students from one AYP school could attend the same new school until the grade levels are finished.
transfer school. This would prevent sending 2 buses out (If student is assigned in 6th grade, the
for 2 different schools. This would eliminate several
student can stay through the end of the 8th
buses at some of the schools. Also looking at sending
grade.) Number of eligible receiving schools
them closer to their home school.
is very limited due to school capacity; below
100% is a criteria for placement. Proximity is
factored into bus assignments.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 68 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/25/2009
School Choice
Open ALL magnet programs to ALL Orange County
students (do not limit by zoned school, as in the case of
high school IB programs) - provide NO transportation for
any magnet students. This will allow working parents the
opportunity to enroll their student in a magnet program
close to their workplace AND reduce transporation costs
for the district.
12/19/2008
School Choice
Look again at the K-8 schools and the high cost of bus
transportation for these middle school students. With
less than 300 students enrolled at one of the three; it
seems reasonable those grades 6-8 students could
easily be absorbed into the 3-4 regular middle schools in
their learning community. This would only displace 15
teachers; all of whom could get positions at the other
area middle schools. The idea of magnet middle schools
is not applicable in today's cost-pinching economy.
At the start of the school year provide parents with an
itemized list of the textbooks that were assigned to their
children, and include the price of the book. This will
encourage parents to keep track of the very expensive
textbooks.
Eliminate special programs in schools such as dual
language. Teachers in dual language are serving half the
number of students as regular classroom teachers.
(These are not ESOL students.) Additional materials and
training are required which increases the amount of
money spent to educate these students.
1/5/2009
a
Schools
1/2/2009
l
Schools
3/16/2009
l
Schools
Stop having Bilingual Classes and offer only ESOL
and/or ESOL Sheltered for second language students.
This eliminates transportation to centers, and each
school can serve their own students, since all teachers
should be ESOL endorsed.
Elementary magnet busing is currently being
discussed. All high school magnet programs
are open to all students in Orange County with
the exception of the IB programs. IB courses
are very structured and teachers receive the
same training and course expectations and
OCPS is proud to have five authorized
programs strategically placed so that all
students have access.
Eliminating the K-8 magnet programs (Arbor
Ridge and Windy Ridge) would eliminate four
buses.
This suggestion was referred to principals.
Dual language is a research-based bilingual
instructional program designed to develop
dual language proficiency in both ELL and nonELL students. Grant monies supplement the
materials needed to sustain these programs.
The ability of a school to maintain a dual
language program is dependent on numbers
of students and is evaluated annually.
Bilingual education is a research-based
instructional program designed to develop
subject cognitive skills in the primary language
that transfer into English to a level where the
ELL student can succeed in an English-only
classroom. Title III grant monies supplement
the materials needed to sustain these
programs.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 69 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
o
Schools
Close under-enrolled sites and/or old sites that are due This is being considered.
for renovation, such as elementary schools w/less than
350 and consolidate with other small elementary schools
or create more K-8 schools; sell old/closed sites.
11/12/2008
o
Schools
Close all schools that are under the enrollment capacity. Closing of some small schools is under
consideration/will receive further review.
Turn off computers and lights when you leave school. A All technology specialists have been given
computer left on 24 hours a day wastes $224 a year in
direction to put computers in "sleep mode"
electricity.
when not in operation. Schools have been
working on reducing hours of operation and
being sensitive to energy savings.
Discipline referrals should be entered by school staff
Area administrators will review legal
online; NCR copies are not necessary.
requirement for parent notification.
Cut services for the gifted students in half and give to
Children in Florida who are enrolled in public
ESE students.
school and meet the eligibility criteria for gifted
education must be offered these services.
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
Close down schools for the month of July.
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
Centralize school scheduling for master schedules and
bell schedules
Cut out extended year for ESE students since regression Extended School Year opportunities are
does not happen 80% of the time.
closely monitored by the ESE Department to
see that only those students who qualify for
the services are provided the services. ESY is
required for students as determined by their
Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Eliminate summer school with the exception of six high Limited summer school is being considered.
school sites and charge summer school fees (encourage
students to pass during school year); offer more online
fee-based courses.
Provide all communication to parents on school Web
Many schools use electronic communication
site; notify availability via Connect-ED. Limited paper
as much as possible. Some students and
copies available at school.
parents do not have access to computers in
their homes.
Eliminate the "walk through" with recording system.
Not a cost-saving matter. No additional
purchases are necessary.
Consideration is being given to modified
shutdowns similar to what is done during the
winter holidays.
Cost savings is not evident.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 70 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
Schools
Cut summer school for all elementary, 6th and 7th
graders. Leave summer school for 8th graders for
progression to high school.
Have more deans than assistant principals. Look at
FDLRS.
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
Centralize the discipline process for Level 4 expulsions -- Students who commit Level 4 Offenses must
One Area Administrator located at ELC to process,
be given due process within 10 days of being
Executive Area Directors represent schools.
removed from school. There will be a
reduction of one area administrator in next
year's budget, making this requirement a
challenge. EAD's have many responsibilities
that would be compromised by becoming fulltime disciplinarians.
11/11/2008
Schools
Charge consistent locker, art, music, parking, technology This has been referred to principals.
(for paper), consumable workbook (if applicable) for all
students with the exception of F/R lunch students.
Offering summer reading camp is a
requirement for 3rd grade students who do not
pass the FCAT.
Principals work in collaboration with area
superintendents to determine number of
assistant principals at each site. Assistant
principals are able to perform certain critical
functions deans are not. Assistant principal
positions were reduced last school year and
are under review for 2009-2010. FDLRS is
not paid from OCPS operating funds, but a
federal grant, and services are provided to five
counties.
Have attendance clerk work part time since new system School principals make decisions regarding
is online.
clerical personnel. Many attendance clerks
perform other duties.
Hold schools accountable for their FTE; if they lost FTE Schools are held accountable for their FTE
due to errors or underreporting or for any reason, the
financially.
FTE should be taken from the budget.
Allow secondary schools to contract for Coke/Pepsi
Since the healthy schools initiatives and
products to negotiate their own commission and/or
guidelines regarding the content of sugar in
equipment such as scoreboards, score tables, etc.
items available in vending machines have
come into effect, vending companies have
expressed little interest in supporting schools
as they have done several years prior.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 71 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/11/2008
Schools
Teachers can make their own copies. Cut office
personnel.
This is a school-based position and principals
make decisions regarding the use of clerical
staff. Many clerical workers do several jobs.
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/11/2008
Schools
11/12/2008
Schools
11/12/2008
Schools
Designate one Property Inventory, one FTE, and one
This is already being done.
School Grade Corrections staff person at each school
and provide targeted training w/pre/post test. Make them
accountable for these important tasks. Each of these
areas mean funds for schools.
Raise enrollment requirement for schools to have an
This is being considered.
assistant principal.
Replace media specialists with media clerks.
This is being done at some school sites. Has
been left to the principal to make the actual
decisions as schools have made cuts in their
school-based budgets.
Account for all textbooks issues by scanning to students This is current practice.
with an ID card and requiring them to return the
textbooks each year or make restitution.
Close all schools in the summer except for custodial
Consideration is being given to modified
help.
shutdowns similar to what is done during the
winter holidays.
Redirect money used for Teacher of the Year recognition Most Teacher of the Year activities are paid
to the school operating budget.
for through funds outside of the operating
budget, including donations and fund-raising.
11/12/2008
Schools
Consolidate unused classrooms into one building.
Need more information.
11/12/2008
Schools
Only critical textbooks/curriculum will be
purchased during the budget shortfall.
11/12/2008
Schools
Stop purchasing and adopting new curriculum for highrisk students. Teachers can adapt current curriculum,
save on consultants.
Less money and teacher time should be spent on new
strategies, teacher training and materials at this time.
11/12/2008
Schools
11/12/2008
Schools
Professional development costs are being
evaluated, but continued learning of adults will
be expected.
Books do not need to be readopted every five years.
Purchase of textbooks is legislated by the
state. District has requested, along with
Central Florida School Board Coalition,
flexibility with the spending of these funds on a
temporary basis.
Reference books do not need annual replenishing. Most Reference books are not replenished
of the information is available online.
annually.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 72 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
Schools
Use school campuses after hours for extra income.
11/12/2008
Schools
Get volunteers in schools to clean, make copies, serve
food.
11/12/2008
Schools
Rotate speech therapists and guidance counselors at the Speech therapists are allocated to schools
elementary level like the schedule for social workers.
based upon the identified needs of students
being served in those schools and are
assigned to multiple schools. ESE
administrators and principals are reviewing
how to streamline this process and reduce the
number of speech therapists needed where
possible. Due to budget constraints, counselor
positions, especially at the elementary level,
have already been reduced or eliminated. The
workload and job responsibilities on existing
counselor positions are very demanding.
11/12/2008
Schools
Redirect A+ funds into the school operating budget.
11/12/2008
Schools
11/12/2008
Schools
Eliminate "teacher lead checks" and use that money
collectively to help the school.
Increase parent fees for after-school care.
11/12/2008
Schools
11/12/2008
Schools
11/12/2008
Schools
Eliminate seven-period day. Students can pass the
classes the first time. Now there is an attitude of, "I can
take it again next year."
Cut out programs like Super Saturday.
Reduce expenses on planners by not putting so much
inside.
Schools employ facility rental agreements
using district guidelines. Many schools utilize
these additional dollars to supplement their
instructional program.
Some schools are already doing this where
parents are available.
State statute requires that the SAC and the
school staff jointly decide how the money will
be spent. The two groups can choose to use
it for non-recurring equipment or material or
for temporary personnel.
Teacher lead payments are determined by the
legislature, not the local school board.
The after-school programs are self-supporting
and operate efficiently with current revenue.
Fees charged are aligned with other area
school districts.
The seven period day actually saves money.
These programs are very valuable in assisting
our struggling students with the extra time
they need to catch up. Many of these
programs are paid for or supplemented by
grants.
This is a school-based decision. Will share
with principals.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 73 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/12/2008
Schools
Put limits on paper usage.
This is a school-based decision. Most have
limits due to budget cuts.
11/12/2008
Schools
This is being considered.
11/12/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
Eliminate field trips that are not grant-sponsored, include
substitute and cost of bus.
Require parents to have a local home phone number so
as not to pay long-distance charges to cell phone
numbers.
Put ESOL classes online to reduce costs to schools.
11/13/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
Review the computers in schools -- maybe consolidate
into labs instead of having so few in each classroom.
11/13/2008
Schools
Have students pay for percentage of textbooks with
sliding scale for those on free/reduced lunch.
11/13/2008
Schools
Eliminate the use of textbooks and thus, the adoption
cycles. Use funds to purchase reference materials that
have timeless information.
11/13/2008
Schools
Share an ESE staffing coordinator among schools.
11/13/2008
Schools
Use parent volunteers for lunch duty and bus duty allows paras to spend more time in classroom, may
eliminate need for extra paras.
Eliminate "take home" books -- have parents pay for
them.
Go on a year-round schedule and have two weeks off
each marking period.
This is not within the authority of the school
district. We may request, but not require.
Early in February we will be piloting ESOL online classes with a core group of teachers. We
will evaluate this mode of delivery and
hopefully expand to all teachers.
No unnecessary textbooks will be purchased
in these budgetary times.
Not a cost-saving matter. Not having school
during hottest summer months saves
electricity.
Principals are required to develop a
technology plan, and decisions regarding the
placement of computers
Purchase of textbooks is legislated by the
state as part of the students' right to a free
and appropriate education.
Purchase of textbooks is legislated by the
state. District has requested, along with
Central Florida School Board Coalition,
flexibility with the spending of these funds on a
temporary basis.
Several elementary schools share a staffing
specialist. This decision should be made
based on the number of students with
disabilities and ESE programs at the school.
Some schools are already doing this where
parents are available.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 74 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/13/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
11/13/2008
Schools
11/14/2008
Schools
11/14/2008
Schools
11/14/2008
Schools
11/14/2008
Schools
11/14/2008
Schools
Scale back district offices and put more funds into
schools. Give schools more autonomy.
The district offices have taken a larger
proportion of cuts to budgets over the years
and will continue to make additional cuts this
school year. OCPS has one of the lowest
administrative costs in the state.
Cut field trips in elementary schools to two per year.
The use of any district funds to pay for field
trips is being reviewed. Most field trips are
paid by parents and donations.
Stop allowing students to take classes time and time
There are cost-effective credit retrieval
again for free. Charge them after the first time.
programs available at the schools.
Re-evaluate administration in schools - numbers of AP's This is under consideration/will receive further
with deans, staffing coordinators, SAFE, resource officer, review.
etc.
Make a class set of worksheets instead of a set for each This will be referred to principals for
class. Put in plastic protectors that students can write on, consideration.
then erase.
Teach students to write their assignments in their
This will be referred to principals for
notebooks instead of distributed sheets of info. Note
consideration.
taking is a valuable skill.
Charge students for summer school and AP classes.
This would limit access to underprivileged
students.
Eliminate ISS. This costs the schools so much time and All curricular and extracurricular programs are
money. These students should be out of school as
under review for cost/benefit.
discipline.
Some schools are so small that an AP is not needed.
Allocations of assistant principals are being
reviewed. In some small schools assistant
principals have been placed there as an
intervention or by court order. Other small
schools do not have assistant principals.
Provide school-to-home communication to the oldest
Forward to schools for consideration.
child in the family only when several children are in the
same school.
Change reports cards from four times a year to three.
Parents need to be informed of progress.
Semester timelines and credits should remain
intact.
Create centers to allow a 1:50 teacher student ratio who Schools sites offer credit retrieval now in this
monitor students taking credit retrieval.
ratio or greater. Some programs are offered
after school through grant funds.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 75 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/14/2008
Schools
Allow juniors and seniors to go to school half days so that This is current practice. Could be expanded.
they can enroll in internship and externship programs in
the community in the career of their choice.
11/14/2008
Schools
11/14/2008
Schools
This is not a cost-saving measure. Certain
courses such as band require participation as
part of the course .
This option is already available.
11/14/2008
Schools
Consider eliminating the marching band requirement for
those students who want to have musical experiences
during the day only.
Produce an electronic counseling program to help high
school and middle school students sign up for their
classes, etc.
Set up a program to allow honors and gifted students to
graduate from high school earlier in three years or less.
11/21/2008
Schools
The contact information form and the Code of Conduct
should be electronic instead of paper.
11/21/2008
Schools
11/21/2008
Schools
11/21/2008
Schools
11/21/2008
Schools
11/21/2008
Schools
12/1/2008
Schools
12/3/2008
Schools
Ask parents to make a $25 donation at the beginning of
the school year to help defray the cost of supplies.
Offer a reward to the top three schools that can come up
with the best realistic plans to cut spending at their
schools.
Make use of Florida Virtual School for computer classes
and foreign language classes.
Put some courses on the Internet that students can take
at home or in certain locales. This would help eliminate
the need for busing.
Have Staples or Office Depot open a small store on
school campuses and bill the parents for purchases of
supplies.
Have principals be in charge of two schools and have an
AP cover when the principal is not at the school.
Rethink the television production equipment that is put in
high schools. The district does not have a standard TV
production curriculum, nor is there district curriculum
support. Perhaps there could be a couple of magnet
programs where there is more sophisticated equipment.
Many schools use electronic communication
as much as possible. Some students and
parents do not have access to computers in
their homes.
Refer to principals for consideration.
12/5/2008
Schools
Restrict copying to classroom necessities only; make
most information available online.
This option is already available.
Schools, departments and students have
been asked to submit ideas.
This is current practice.
This is currently available through Florida
Virtual School.
This is not a cost-saving measure.
This is a possible consideration for smaller
schools.
Facilities currently has established 138
standards, supported by thousands of
specifications to ensure that all new and
renovated construction meets our prototype
quality standards, and achieves the best lifecycle performance.
Refer to principals for consideration.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 76 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/8/2008
Schools
At my previous school district, teachers were required to OCPS is committed to regular communication
complete interim progress reports only for those students to all parents regarding the progress of their
with academic or behavioral concerns. All students
students.
received an interim during the first quarter. After that,
they only went to those students that the teacher targeted
as deficient in an area. It would save a great deal of
paper and toner!
Charge parents for all lost/damaged textbooks and
This is current practice. Florida Statute
library books.
1006.42 allows for collection of lost/damaged
textbooks at school site.
If students were grouped K-6, 7-9, and 10-12 (like in the This is not accurate. The costs would be
"old" days), we would not need 9th grade centers. That moved from one campus to another.
should save money. Additionally, and more importantly,
students would be grouped more appropriately.
12/8/2008
Schools
12/8/2008
Schools
12/10/2008
Schools
12/15/2008
Schools
12/19/2008
Schools
Send info home to parents via email. Use Connect-ED to
reach parents who don't have Internet access. When a
newsletter is needed, have a publisher sell ads and pay
the cost of school newsletters (like Odyssey Middle).
The PTA at Odyssey pays the postage.
12/19/2008
Schools
Have middle school students use the same ID badge for Refer to principals for consideration.
three years.
12/19/2008
Schools
Make summer school a self-supporting program.
Parents who can't pay may be able to volunteer time,
provide custodial help, etc.
Consider changing some of the elementary schools with This can be considered by the school board.
low student populations to K-8 schools and closing a
couple of middle schools. The current K-8 schools are
doing well academically.
Have smaller schools share a technology consultant.
This is current practice.
Many schools use electronic communication
as much as possible. Some students and
parents do not have access to computers in
their homes. Additionally, many schools sell
advertisements on newsletters.
Summer school is being reviewed and will be
reduced to bare minimum. Primary cost is
teacher salaries.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 77 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/19/2008
Schools
Eliminating the PSAT requirement for all eligible high
school students and reduce the number of students
participating in IB/AP courses by stiffening entrance
requirements (minimum GPA/FCAT, etc.) will save a
considerable amount of money from instructional
materials, staffing, and assessment.
12/29/2008
Schools
12/29/2008
Schools
12/29/2008
Schools
12/29/2008
Schools
Look into the viability of running split sessions.
Not a cost-saving matter.
12/29/2008
Schools
12/29/2008
Schools
Eliminate wasteful spending by doing a line-by-line
inventory per school Justifications must be made for
every position and every expenditure.
Charge students for their agendas/planners.
Principals review their budgets with area
superintendents and School Advisory
Councils.
Refer to principals for consideration.
12/29/2008
Schools
Have students pay to use a locker, and charge more for
parking fees.
Refer to principals for consideration.
This practice goes against district mission and
vision that includes opening access to all
students to high-level and challenging
coursework. The district has made a
concerted effort to promote the opportunity for
all students to participate and succeed in
higher level courses and to have the
knowledge of all the options available to them
during their high school experience. Having a
stiff entrance requirements would prohibit
many students from having equal access to
these opportunities. Also, more funds are
generated when more students do well on
IB/AP exams.
Charge students a textbook deposit fee which is
Access to instructional materials is part of the
refundable at the end of the year if the book is not lost or right to a free and appropriate public
damaged.
education. Schools are required to provide
them by statute; Florida law does not allow for
charging a fee.
Charge students for grade recovery classes/summer
Florida law does not allow the school district to
school/AP classes.
charge for instruction. This suggestion
impacts the equity and access of some
students to participate in summer school and
AP classes.
Redirect the internal accounts funds into the schools'
Internal account funds are already used to pay
operating budgets.
for school needs. Money that used to be used
for the "extras" is now paying for necessities.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 78 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/29/2008
Schools
Have students use "used" textbooks instead of buying
new, and use older editions of textbooks.
12/29/2008
Schools
12/30/2008
Schools
Contract with companies such as Office Depot to have
teachers make copies in their facilities at a low rate
instead of making copies at school.
Put classes on double sessions to save building new
schools.
12/30/2008
Schools
Have recycle bins at schools and encourage parents to
send their newspapers and other recyclables.
12/31/2008
Schools
12/31/2008
Schools
Allow Juniors and Seniors who have passed the FCAT
an excused absence from school on these testing days.
This would free up teachers and allow some classrooms
to be shut down for the day.
Eliminate paper planners altogether.
Refer to principals for consideration.
12/31/2008
Schools
12/31/2008
Schools
12/31/2008
Schools
1/6/2009
Schools
1/6/2009
Schools
Hold students and parents monetarily accountable for
destructive behaviors in schools like graffiti.
Have parents pay for field trips.
Get more corporate participation in career training for all
high schools; more motivation for students, better
attendance.
Propose configuration of K-6 and 7-12; use existing
buildings (detailed plan submitted). Only two bus runs
are required. Should help eliminate some cuts.
Charge for school performances (chorale, band, drama,
etc.); promote performances.
The State of Florida has requirements for the
purchase and use of textbooks. OCPS has
requested along with other central Florida
school districts for temporary flexibility is the
use of this money. The law requires that
students have access to major tools for
learning (Florida Statutes 1006.28 and
1006.40).
This is done at some school sites. Some
schools also use district printing services at an
even lower cost.
Currently the building program is adequately
funded to continue as planned. Growth
patterns are annually reviewed to make
decisions regarding changes. Construction
dollars are not able to be used for operational
needs like salaries and teaching materials.
This has been done with modest returns.
Became more difficult as municipalities
increased recycling efforts at home.
Not a cost-cutting measure.
This is current practice.
This is current practice.
This suggestion is strongly supported and is
currently attempted and implemented at our
schools.
Configuration proposed will require study to
determine savings and will require board
approval. Timing is of the essence.
Refer to principals for consideration.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 79 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/6/2009
Schools
Review all field trips/CBI for educational relevance, and
ask if there a place closer to the school for that trip.
Refer to principals. Most field trips are paid by
parents now.
1/6/2009
Schools
Use Florida Virtual School for remedial classes.
1/6/2009
Schools
1/7/2009
Schools
1/8/2009
Schools
1/8/2009
Schools
1/8/2009
Schools
1/9/2009
Schools
1/14/2009
Schools
Implement student uniforms for elementary and middle
schools without a parental vote required. This would cut
down dress code violations (ISS students) and it can be
used as a source of income for the schools.
This is not a cost-saving matter. Requiring
school uniforms is a Legislative
decision/school board decision.
1/15/2009
Schools
Eliminate bilingual education and use an ESOL model
only. Bilingual education is not required. Seminole
County doesn't have bilingual.
Bilingual education is a research-based
instructional program designed to develop
dual language proficiency in both English
Language Learner (ELL) and non-ELL
students. Grant monies supplement the
materials needed to sustain these programs.
1/15/2009
Schools
Do away with cable TV. Why do we need it.
Cable service is provided free of charge to
schools.
Students currently use Florida Virtual School
for recovery classes, but it is not a good option
for some learners. There are other recovery
and remedial opportunities for students that
may be accessed during the regular school
day.
Make Dommerich Elementary/Maitland Middle a K-8
This can be reviewed to determine cost
school and combine administrative/support functions.
savings.
Rotate duties for receptionist/phone at schools and cut
Principals determine how clerical positions are
the receptionist position. There is an auto-attendant that used at schools. Many of these positions
answers the phone.
have been cut/consolidated as part of
previous budget cuts. Most clerks perform
multiple duties.
Ask PTAs to pay for some needed items.
In schools where they are able PTA are
supporting schools in a variety of ways.
Review school supply list. Some teachers don't use
Refer to principals. It will be critical to reduce
what's on the generic list; others require additional items. unnecessary purchases for parents as well as
school.
Have summer school in only a handful of schools in the This is being considered.
district to save energy costs.
Give exam exemptions to high school students who have Not a cost-saving matter.
an "A" in the class and a mimimum number of absences.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 80 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/16/2009
Schools
Give schools with lower discipline issues the option of
Resource officer positions are under review.
trading school resource officer/dean funding for teachers. Schools decide on the use of deans, which
are actually teacher units.
Charge for credit retrieval
Florida law does not allow the school district to
charge for instruction.
Charge for summer school. Manu students could have Florida law does not allow the school district to
passed the course the first time
charge for instruction.
Books do not need to be readopted every five years.
This is currently done at the direction of the
Florida Dept. of Education. The state sets the
adoption schedule which is every 6 years;
however, the district is asking the legislature
for flexibility with this mandate.
Consider having small schools convert to charters to
There would be some savings through this
save money.
process, but less than the estimated $1 million
saved by merging a small school. The district
would transfer 95% of the earned FTE to the
charter school for the students in attendance.
The charter schools might lack sufficient
funding to remain solvent if the enrollment is
too low. An application would need to go
through the evaluation process as usual. The
Board would have to consider if it would lease
or sell the property to a charter school as
opposed to selling the property to another
entity for greater profit.
1/21/2009
Schools
1/21/2009
Schools
1/22/2009
Schools
1/27/2009
Schools
2/2/2009
Schools
2/5/2009
Schools
2/5/2009
Schools
Some children receive several retention letters each
quarter. One is sufficient.
2/6/2009
Schools
2/16/2009
Schools
Have graduations ceremonies at schools instead of at
UCF and the Amway Arena.
Paper must be parent donations only.
Charge a fee based on family income for participation in Charging fees is being considered.
high school activities.
Use the same report card for all four marking periods.
Electronic reporting is more cost-effective.
Retention letters are sent home twice a year
(January and spring). We encourage
communication to home.
Facilities are not large enough to adequately
offer this experience.
Can accept donations of paper and we are
currently accepting donation for supplies, etc.
Refer to the Executive Community
Services>Commnity Relations>Community
Resources>Community Resource Needs
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 81 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/16/2009
Schools
Eliminate the DARE program.
2/16/2009
Schools
Discourage students from plugging in their cell phone
chargers at school.
2/16/2009
Schools
2/16/2009
Schools
2/23/2009
Schools
Make greater use of the school visualizer (overhead)
systems since it saves on paper.
Set up each classroom with a large computer
monitor, camera and microphone so one teacher can
teach multiple classes. Have teacher assistants in each
classroom. You can reduce the teaching staff by as
much as 75%.
Do not pay for the Excel program for students who have
been expelled. That is the parents' responsibility.
2/23/2009
2/23/2009
Schools
Schools
2/23/2009
Schools
2/23/2009
Schools
3/2/2009
Schools
3/3/2009
Schools
3/3/2009
Schools
Position is jointly funded by a federal grant
and law enforcement agency. It Is a part of
the school safety plan.
This has been referred to principals.
This is currently being done.
This would be a violation of the current class
size amendment. It really is not best practice.
Community forums on safety explicitly request
these type of programs to ensure
neighborhood safety and to continue serving
the educational needs of these students
Have resource teachers teach at least one class.
This has been shared with principals.
Make all parents volunteer at least 10 hours each school While we have record high volunteer
year per child to enrich the educational experience for all. numbers, schools can't demand that parents
volunteer.
Require all personnel to leave the school campus 1.5
We have reduced the number of hours that
hours after the end of school.
employees are on campus. Facility lease
agreements after school hours require
payment for employees.
Reduce the hours of clinic aides in schools that have
No savings determined/not feasible. Due to
nurses. Use volunteers instead.
HIPAA and FERPA medical and legal
confidentiality guidelines, it would be unwise to
use volunteers to serve the medical needs of
our students. A medically trained employee is
more suitable.
Outline what the classroom consummables (workbooks) Parents can look for more donation requests
cost and you'll be surprised at how many parents will
next year.
donate, if you just ask.
Use ISTEPS instead of FACTS.
FACTS is free.
Eliminate in-school suspension and send the student
home to save the cost of a monitor.
Our goal is to keep the students in school and
off the street.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 82 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/3/2009
Schools
Have bookstores in schools that sell supplies for a profit Owning and operating bookstores are schoolwhile students who cannot afford it don't pay.
level decisions. Materials are made available
for students who cannot afford to purchase.
3/3/2009
Schools
Move away from block schedules that cost more.
This is not a cost-saving measure.
3/3/2009
Schools
Mandate that all students wear uniforms and sell the
uniforms to students at a profit.
3/16/2009
Schools
3/16/2009
Schools
Return to the Junior High concept (grades 7-9).
Elementary schools would have K-6, and high schools
would have grades 10-12. Middle schools were created
for growth and budget reasons, not for educational
enhancement.
Redefine Title I schools to a lower percentage of
students on free/reduced meals to get extra federal
dollars.
Wearing of uniforms in public schools is
voluntary. Some school sell uniforms at a
modest cost so that students who have
difficult paying will be provided one.
Further research is needed.
3/16/2009
Schools
3/16/2009
Schools
3/16/2009
Legal
Lowering the percentage lowers the amount of
dollars available for schools and increases the
number of schools that would come under the
Differentiated Accountability model. This
would increase costs to meet the
requirements imposed by being a DA school,
thus decreasing dollars to schools even
further or dictating how the dollars must be
spent.
Allow businesses to donate money to schools for naming This requires further research for legal
rights, letterheads, advertising on school buses and other ramifications of equitable distribution of
forms of advertising in exchange for giving the school
contributions. Business contributions have
funds.
typically been used for non-recurring
expenses. Some communities may not want
their school renamed.
Eliminating "early out" Wednesdays would shorten the
This would require a revision to the state
school year by six days, which could save millions.
mandate for a 180-day school year.
Take donations from parents who don't want their kids'
schools to close.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 83 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/16/2009
Schools
Offer corporate sponsorship opportunities for the
corridors, cafeteria, performing arts centers, etc. in our
high schools. A company would "lease" the space for a
set period of time and would be permitted to theme, hang
posters, and distribute (through stationary racks)
coupons and discounts to their establishment in the
designated space.
Set up community service clubs or electives where the
students learn how to keep the school up by cleaning,
maintaining the shrubs, etc. This may also help generate
more school pride.
Elementary schools should departmentalize, especially in
grades 3-5 for math, reading and science. Teachers
should be chosen for these courses based on FCAT
data. This eliminates the need for some textbooks, and
will bring more money to the school in A+ dollars.
3/16/2009
Schools
3/16/2009
Schools
3/16/2009
Schools
High schools could offer 0-8 period days. Students would This is a possibility worth exploring.
not need summer school to get ahead. Teachers could
teach up to 9 periods a day for extra stipends per period.
3/16/2009
Schools
3/18/2009
Schools
Create a position of "floating teachers" in each school
that would perform various tasks, including administrative
tasks, but because they are certified can be used to sub
as needed.
Get rid of golf carts and motorized vehicles on school
campuses -- less money for maintenance/utilities.
3/19/2009
Schools
3/19/2009
Schools
Recently Dade and soon Broward counties
are doing just this. Discussions concerning
this opportunity is forthcoming.
May assist in establishing pride, and could
possibly be a cost saving idea.
This practice is taking place in some of our
schools; however, this has not been done for
the sole purpose of not purchasing textbooks.
Currently utilized in some schools. This
position is a permanent substitute teacher.
Golf carts are used for hauling and getting to a
location on campus with alacrity. They are
used to help custodian, deans and
administration to operate efficiently and to
provide safety on campus.
Charge each student a small materials fee annually.
Will be considered where feasible and if it
does not violate requirement for free public
education.
Shorten all days to the Wednesday schedule. Rotate a
State statutes require school districts to
schedule of longer class times. Have some classwork on provide services to students for a specified
the Web site.
number of hours per week. Shortening to the
Wednesday schedule each day does not
provide the required number of hours.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 84 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/19/2009
Schools
Start running split sessions at schools and use the
shorter Wednesday schedule. This allows twice the
number of students to use the same space.
3/27/2009
Schools
3/27/2009
Schools
3/31/2009
Schools
4/3/2009
4/3/2009
Schools
Schools
4/3/2009
Schools
4/3/2009
Schools
Have the high school marching bands only play during
home games. This saves busing, cleaning, and other
costs.
Ask churches and community groups to save labels for This is an option to consider.
education (Campbell's soup) and Box Tops for Education
and donate to local school. Our school gets a lot of
money from this each year for little work. The key is to
get the community involved and ask senior citizens to
help.
Ask parents for monetary donations at the beginning of
the year and mid-year for supplies, then buy what you
need instead of getting an overstock of one item.
Eliminate retention to kindergarten and first grade.
Eliminate printing of class sets of materials. Teacher can
display the information; students learn to copy it.
School staff must use e-mail for communication.
Eliminate printing of all fliers at schools.
Supplies for next year: every employee will supply their
own pencils, pens, staples, tissues, batteries, etc.
Companies should be contacted for donations of pencils,
pens and tissues for student use. Limit the number and
types of supplies offered through the warehouse.
3/16/2009
11/19/2008
By state statute, schools are required to
provide services to students for a certain
number of hours per week. Split sessions with
a Wednesday schedule each day do not
provide the required numbr of hours.
This cost-saving idea is being considered for
the upcoming 2009-2010 school year.
Schools/Administrative Market to the public that they can rent school facilities for
Operations
their private functions.
Schools/dual enrollment Bus dual enrollment students to the closest technical
This is current practice.
center that has the program.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 85 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
11/21/2008
Schools/Instruc Tech
4/3/2009
Schools/Procurement
11/11/2008
Security Services
11/11/2008
Student Services
11/21/2008
Student Services
12/1/2008
Student Services
1/6/2009
Student Services
Evaluate the Audio Enhancement Carts that are provided
in new portable projects. We are currently paying $300.
for a project screen when it lists in our own warehouse
for $42.29. The cart we purchase from Audio
Enhancement is $472. The warehouse carries a cart for
$107. We also pay $995. for a microphone speaker
system to be installed in a 864 sq ft classroom. I don't
believe the teachers really use it. The entire cart set up
cost $3,400. I think it could be scaled back to about
$1,200.
Planners should be prepared at the schools. (There are
companies that sell binder machines and planners can
be made for anywhere from $1 to $5 instead of current
costs.)
Renegotiate SRO contracts and make them more
accountable to school principals; law enforcement
agencies should be charged back when SRO is not at
school, i.e. out for sick/personal/annual leave, training,
meetings, etc.
All of the direct services provided by LMHC's, LCSW's
and Psychologists can be billed to Medicaid for many
extra dollars.
Increase Medicaid billing to produce more money for the
district.
Have all schools cover their own ESE/ESOL students
instead of transporting them to other schools.
Drain and fill the unused therapy swimming pools.
Energy, water and an outside contractor are being
wasted for maintenance.
Facilities currently has established 138
standards, supported by thousands of
specifications to ensure that all new and
renovated construction meets our prototype
quality standards, and achieves the best lifecycle performance. This technology is used
effectively in classrooms across the district.
This is under review.
This is current practice.
We are in the process of training more staff to
be able to do this.
Services for ESE/ELL students are
determined by need. All schools do not have
the capacity to provide specialized services.
Placement of programs is reviewed annually
to ensure services are as close to home
schools as possible. This is designed to
minimize transportation costs.
Lake Silver Elementary is the only school that
has a pool that is used for therapy. There
have been problems maintaining the pool .
OCPS Facilities/Maintenance personnel are
looking into closing it and replacing it with a
smaller, more efficient therapy pool that will
run off of gas instead of electricity.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 86 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/8/2009
Student Services
There is a duplication of services for English Language
Learners at schools, learning communities and district
offices.
The services for ELLs at the school is
supporting the students and the schools. The
services at the learning communities support
the schools' compliance federal and state
mandates. The grant-funded services from
the district office support the curriculum and
instruction needs in the schools.
1/9/2009
Student Services
Reduce individual services for special-needs students.
Group OT and PT students. Put Speech back in the
medical field.
In an effort to consolidate services, the OT/PT
Department began grouping students for
services over 2 years ago. Today,
approximately 33% to 45% of the students
eligible for Occupational Therapy (OT)
services participate in group sessions. The
lower percentage is found at the
special/center schools where the individual
needs of the students vary and amount of
services is determined by the IEP. The
percent of students receiving group therapy
through the itinerant Physical Therapist (PT) is
not as high since there may only be one of two
students at a school receiving therapy. At the
special/center schools, where the number of
students requiring therapy is higher, the
therapists are encouraged to group selected
students. While individual sessions are
necessary to train certain skills; carryover of
the skill can be practiced in group or
classroom settings. The OT/PT Department
will continue to encourage group treatment for
students whenever possible. A "Medical
Model" involves testing for a communication
disorder. Once a diagnosis is obtained, service
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 87 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
3/16/2009
Student Services
Hire additional Registered Nurse substitutes for OCPS.
Then, when a substitute is needed it would cost less per
hour to pay the OCPS RN employee than a RN from an
outside agency.
4/3/2009
Student Services
4/3/2009
Student Services
Reopen IEPs for ELL students who receive speech and Addressing dialectical differences when
language services. There may be an overrepresentation looking at speech and language services is
of such students in speech when it really is a second
already adopted.
language acquisition issue.
Implement electronic case management to track all
student IEP data to ensure compliance and save money
in record-keeping.
Sell surplus land, vehicles, or other idle assets.
12/29/2008
Surplus/Real Property
12/31/2008
Surplus/Real Property
11/21/2008
Technology
11/11/2008
a
Technology
11/19/2008
a
Technology
11/11/2008
j
Technology
11/11/2008
j
Technology
RN substitutes are generally less expensive
than RNs from agencies. Often the sub
nurses are also registered with the same
agencies that provide contracted services, and
may not be available to work when they are
needed as sub nurse because they may be
assigned to work on other engagements.
Sell surplus on an Internet auction site such as EBAY
where there are more potential buyers.
Put technology consultants on an 11-month contract; pay This is an ICTS issue that will be reviewed.
them the same so that pay is more comparable to
industry.
No new pilot programs such as Progress Book.
ProgressBook is not a pilot but an enterprise
product to support instruction and attendance
gathering. This methodology assists in
ensuring that we meet state mandates to
collect and report attendance data.
Progress Book is too expensive to maintain and not time- ProgressBook is an enterprise product to
effective. Keep these records on paper.
support instruction and attendance gathering.
This methodology assists in ensuring that we
meet state mandates to collect and report
attendance data.
For email, swap MS Exchange for free Google G-Mail.
We have confidentiality requirements that
must be adhered to due to the nature of our
work.
Replace MS Office with Open Office, free software online We have requirements on the business side
that does much the same thing.
to continue with MS Office. We are
considering the use of Open Office for student
machines.
Revised April 3, 2009
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Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
2/23/2009
j
Technology
11/11/2008
Technology
11/12/2008
Technology
11/12/2008
Technology
11/14/2008
Technology
12/31/2008
Technology
1/8/2009
Technology
Eliminate K-12 Planet and similar systems and switch to All systems have short- and long-term
an in-house system.
inherent costs. Building functional products is
often as expensive, and in some cases more
so, than buying software from a vendor.
Ongoing maintenance cost and the reduced
on the ground support staff of your own is
often more cost-effective.
Review all district software subscriptions to see if some We will assist Instruction and Procurement in
are duplicates or are not being used.
meeting this need.
Try to get more classroom computers donated (example - We do receive donated computers from many
Bill Gates Foundation).
organizations. We have a standard that must
be adhered to because some computers can
generate more work and cost to implement.
Do not leave computers on all the time for updates.
Designate days of the week to leave computers on.
We have implemented a shut-down procedure
for schools and offices to follow. We are
investigating products that will assist in remote
management as well.
Implement printer-management software county wide
This is under consideration/will receive further
(such as PCount), and strictly monitor usage through the review.
school TC and Area TC.
Loosen your policy guidelines on purchasing new-only
We acquire technology to support instruction
technology for schools. The Florida LEAP program can with the understanding that there are multiple
help.
costs other than the technologies. Often the
cost of initial and continued support outstrip
the original cost. All new computers have a
three-year warranty with the cost of the
operating system, anti-theft security and
productivity software incorporated. These
costs are greater with older technologies.
With the improvements and increased
capabilities of software, we try to ensure that
our acquisitions have at least a 4-6 year use
life.
Re-examine how technology funds are being used.
This will be taken under advisement. We will
Some principals have fancy equipment (completely
also examine and ensure procedures for
unnecessary) while teachers and students struggle with equipment that is to be fixed.
old computers and nonfunctioning equipment. Also, it is
absurd to fix some equipment when the no-frills versions
can be bought for much less.
Revised April 3, 2009
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Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/20/2009
Technology
Set up secure digital signatures for personnel to sign
documents versus printing out the paper version.
We are currently testing the process to
accomplish this suggestion. We will vet this
with the legal department, as well as
determine the cost to acquire the secure
signature licensing software.
It is the goal of every department to operate
as efficiently as possible.
We will also investigate the use of
rechargeable batteries. Most of our computer
stations use wired technology, though we will
transition some stations.
We have recently begun the process of
implementing better print footprints per floor in
the ELC as well as in the designs of our new
schools. We will begin the process of
advising schools as they acquire replacement
equipment. All of our recent purchases are
digital-network copier/printers.
1/26/2009
Technology
1/29/2009
Technology
Strive to print each report only once -- report cards,
Student Involvement Academic Report.
To save on the cost of thousands of batteries, purchase
only wired keyboards and mice.
2/6/2009
Technology
Use more networked copier/printers that are less
expensive than standalone printers.
2/17/2009
Technology
Use more of the modules offered by SAP -- time off
requests, FMLA requests, vacation, sick leave. All of
these functions can be handled through SAP rather than
paper. (Disney does this.)
We recently had a study completed that
provided us with detail of the modules we use
and don't use. We are addressing one of the
fundamental issues, funding of the module
implementations which requires analysis for
actions. We are currently funding the
implementation of modules that will assist with
cost reduction goals, i.e., printing fewer
documents or providing more self-service.
3/6/2009
Technology
This is being investigated by the Finance
division.
4/3/2009
Technology
Look at the cost of leasing copiers. It is more expensive
than purchasing them, and the cost of copies over what
is allowed is 50 cents per copy.
For student use, buy computers that have no data
storage and use network file storage.
1/7/2009
Technology/Labor
All storage has cost. Building and certifying
the cost for the type of storage needed is
under consideration. While this would save
on cost, it may not save on expense, since
these are budgeted items.
Eliminate 80-90 of the school based TCs. Pull the other This is under consideration/will receive further
half (80-90) under ICTS. Locate them at Tampa Ave
review.
under Technology Repair Dept. About $4 million savings
in salary and benefits.
Revised April 3, 2009
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Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/17/2008
a
Testing
Let students take benchmark exams via the Internet
instead of using paper.
The district is exploring on-line testing and it is
a goal. Consideration must also be given to
the cost of licensing the assessment software
and the costs to develop the infrastructure to
support on-line testing. Consideration is also
being given to requiring schools to re-use
benchmark assessments, which will reduce
paper and copying costs.
1/12/2009
a
Testing
Do away with one benchmark testing session and
materials per year across all grade levels K-12.
Minimize the data trail of paperwork...educate, drip
testing, etc. It is not used by classroom teachers as an
effective means of assessment.
Screen students to take the PSAT. Only the 25% going
to a university really need it. Have them take it at
collegeboard.com.
Save fuel, manpower: Third/Spring EduSoft test is not
needed in the elementary level ... data collection
instruments are available and numerous at the school
site to provide the information on student achievement.
This suggestion is being considered.
11/13/2008
Testing
11/14/2008
Testing
11/19/2008
Testing
11/21/2008
Testing
12/17/2008
Testing
12/29/2008
Testing
This would limit access to underprivileged
students.
Schools that fall under the state DA Model
requirements must administer the spring
benchmark test. For other schools it can be
considered.
Take a good look at all standardized testing and
Several cutbacks of testing have been done
determine overlap, effect on teaching time with students this year including FCAT-NRT, Summer
and overall necessity of the test.
retakes, on-line FCAT Retakes for graduation,
and an on-line NRT pilot. Other cost-saving
ideas are being explored.
Have parents pay for AP and PSAT exams.
This would limit access to underprivileged
students.
Instead of using 4 Scantrons for 4 different quizzes, use
one 1-25 each side Scantron 4 times. For tests you can
do the same by using the 200 question version for four
50-question tests saving 70% or two 100 -question tests
saving 50%.
This would be a school decision and
classroom decision. Consideration would also
need to be given for the best timing of testing
and how best to time testing results with
instruction.
Revised April 3, 2009
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Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/31/2008
Testing
Until the Science FCAT is required for Juniors for
This suggestion would require a change in
graduation, eliminate giving the test. Save on teacher
statute by the legislature.
monitors, paying for the tests, paying for grading, etc.
Some high schools offer incentives to Juniors that pass
this test such as free parking pass in Senior year ($75),
free athletic pass ($75). Giving away these awards cuts
into revenue that the schools would collect.
1/5/2009
Testing
1/7/2009
Testing
It is my understanding that Florida and Texas are the
only two states in the nation to annually test their 3rd
through 10th grade students. Reduce FCAT testing to
every other year and save half of that money.
Let courier pick up testing materials instead of a
contracted service, and let employees shred auxiliary
assessment materials.
1/15/2009
Testing
1/22/2009
Testing
1/26/2009
Testing
This suggestion would require a change in
statute by the legislature.
Courier is used when the packages are small
enough for the Courier Service. Contracted
services are used when the volume exceeds
the Courier capacity. FCAT materials must be
returned to the DOE contractor.
Stop giving FCAT to students who are not capable of
As related to students with disabilities there
taking the test (ease requirements for alternative testing.) are guidelines provided by the Florida State
Department of Education for exemption from
FCAT. The following link,
http://www.ocps.net/cs/ese/programs/cognitive
/Documents/Alternate%20Assessment%20Eli
gibility.pdf provides the information addressing
this issue as described in the Florida
Administrative Code. (Rule 6A-1.0943,
Florida Administrative Code (FAC), Statewide
Assessment for Students with Disabilities)
Any changes regarding easing of
requirements would need to be approved by
the Florida Department of Education.
Temporarily suspend giving the FCAT.
This suggestion would require a change in
statute by the legislature.
Eliminate 4th grade Florida Writes Assessment based on This suggestion would require a change in
the massive cost incurred -- publication of materials,
statute by the legislature.
grading, and printing reports which are sent back to
administration, schools, teachers and parents. Validity of
test is questioned.
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 92 of 97
Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/7/2009
1/26/2009
Testing/Legislative
Work with the state to stop requiring 10th grade students This suggestion would require a change in
to take the PSAT. Not all students are college-bound.
statute by the legislature.
Transporation
Have managers take on the job of team leaders.
Using leads to collect and distribute
information is an economical way to provide
service to many more schools than one
manager can attend.
Investigating.
11/12/2008
a
Transportation
Eliminate busing for middle school magnet programs.
12/19/2008
a
Transportation
If a child lives within two miles of school, allow parents to A legal review and Legislative decision/school
pay for their children to ride a bus that is not full.
board decision would be required.
12/30/2008
a
Transportation
12/31/2008
a
Transportation
1/2/2009
a
Transportation
11/12/2008
b
Transportation
When high school seniors are offered a "senior privilege"
transfer, don't provide them with free transportation if
they are zoned for a new school.
Eliminate transportation for elementary and middle
school magnet programs.
Eliminate busing of students for middle schools and high
schools that live within a four-mile radius of schools
unless there is a safety problem with walking or bicycling.
The Netherlands mandate students ride bicycles to
school, why not Orange County?
Ensure that drivers take the shortest routes possible.
11/12/2008
b
Transportation
12/10/2008
c
Transportation
2/18/2009
c
Transportation
This is no longer the case. Seniors have to
provide their own transportation if they wish to
stay at the old school.
This is under consideration/will receive further
review.
State law requires all students who live two or
more miles from their assigned school be
provided with transportation.
OCPS uses an automated computer
generated routing system that routes the
buses in an efficient manner.
Stops are always evaluated for consolidation
and done so when safe.
This has been investigated in the past and
found that Lynx does not have compatible
schedules for school bell times.
Consolidate bus stops. Two or three neighborhood
communities can meet at one stop.
Consider privatizing only middle and high school
transportation. Allow students to ride Lynx between the
hours of 5:30 AM and 7:00 PM for free, similar to the
Orange County Parks & Rec program The Club. A flat
fee could be charged to the school district for all fares
related to student school travel. Exclude nights and
weekends.
Provide transportation only to special needs students.
Transportation is free to all students who live
Give others in middle and high school a pass to take the two or more miles from their school. This is
city bus. Students living half a mile away can get a half- state law.
fare pass; those who live a mile or more get full-fare
passes.
Revised April 3, 2009
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Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/9/2009
x
Transportation
2/18/2009
x
Transportation
11/11/2008
Transportation
11/11/2008
Transportation
11/11/2008
Transportation
11/11/2008
Transportation
11/12/2008
Transportation
11/12/2008
Transportation
11/12/2008
Transportation
11/13/2008
Transportation
11/19/2008
Transportation
11/21/2008
Transportation
Require middle and high school students to be
transported from the closest elementary school to them
(except those that live more than two miles from the
closest elementary). It would cut down on the number of
bus stops.
Consider transportating students at all grade levels on
same bus with elementary or middle school being the
transfer point. (Separate memo sent.)
Let employees ride the bus to/from school. Provides
extra security, eliminates cars on road, saves gas and
bus monitors.
Blend city and county bus services.
The schools would have to provide
supervision while the students were on
campus. Not a cost savings.
Time is a factor in this. Schools are separated
by too much distance to ensure a timely
delivery schedule.
Investigating
Lynx has been contacted to review its
schedules to serve the schools bell schedules.
Have more fuel depots so that county vehicles don’t have OCPS has four locations near all major
to travel so far to fill up.
parking compounds. The district is
investigating alternate fuel stations.
Generate revenue by advertising on the inside of school This has been investigated in the past but
buses.
encountered many legal problems.
Use smaller buses for smaller groups of students.
Operational costs of buses are very similar.
Buses are used multiple times per day from
small loads to larger ones. Cheaper to run a
large bus than constantly swapping buses for
different loads.
Consider outsourcing Transportation. Provide buses
This has been considered and not found to be
only for ESE and elementary students.
cost effective. Every study has shown OCPS
provides the service for less money than
outsourcing.
Pay bus drivers a flat fee for after-school activities
This is a collective bargaining issue.
instead of paying them to sit and watch the activity. Do
not allow bus drivers to leave events in county buses to
get dinner.
Long-term solution: convert transportation fleet (buses, When the technology becomes available at an
trucks, etc.) to fuel cells or some other non-gasoline
affordable price we will consider the best
based fuel.
solution.
Would a benefactor make up the cost difference for
The board has chosen to use the old
transportation that would allow us to flip back to the old schedule.
schedule?
Check out changing the law that requires that students
State law requires students be transported in
be transported in a bus. Use a minivan when only a few a specific type of vehicle; minivans do not
students need transport.
qualify.
Revised April 3, 2009
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Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/1/2008
Transportation
12/1/2008
Transportation
12/12/2008
Transportation
12/18/2008
Transportation
12/30/2008
Transportation
12/30/2008
Transportation
12/30/2008
Transportation
12/31/2008
Transportation
12/31/2008
Transportation
1/15/2009
Transportation
1/15/2009
Transportation
1/16/2009
Transportation
1/22/2009
Transportation
1/22/2009
Transportation
1/22/2009
Transportation
Charge for all transportation when students travel to
athletic events.
Keep the existing schedule for schools since it is saving
money.
Sell advertising space to local businesses on the sides of
our school buses to generate revenue.
Buses idle at the bus loop for 8-10 minutes during
dismissal. One of the administrators in charge of
dismissal could sound an air horn that would tell the bus
drivers to "start your engines."
Consider closing the Eric Olson compound and sending
buses to Pine Hills and Lake Nona compounds.
All schools pay for field trips including athletic
events.
The School Board voted to return to the old
schedule.
State law prevents ads on the outside of
school buses.
The Transportation Department has an
operating procedure that buses are not
allowed to idle while waiting for students.
Do not provide free transportation to Excel or other
alternative schools.
Consider dropping uniforms for bus drivers.
Legislative decision/school board decision.
Additional property would have to be
purchased. It would also increase operational
costs per bus as the buses would have to
travel further to pick up students.
This will be considered.
Shut down fuel pumps three days per week; have drivers Buses are fueled as necessary.
fill up only twice a week. Conserves fuel and reduces
idling.
Fill the No Child Left Behind buses with students who
Buses have mixed loads when transporting
attend magnet programs at the same schools.
students to the same school.
Stop providing free transportation to students who are
sent to alternative schools for disciplinary reasons.
Charge each participant a yearly amount for
transportation to athletic events when their students are
on a sports team.
Return to the former schedule for middle and high school
start times since it saves money.
Offer parents a token amount to waive bus service
(perhaps a credit towards school lunches).
Charge all parents for transportation to school and from
after-school programs.
Allow school employees to ride the bus and act as bus
monitors in lieu of hiring bus monitors.
Legislative decision/school board decision.
This will be considered.
This is a Legislative decision/school board
decision.
Conflicts with state law.
This will be considered.
This will be considered.
Revised April 3, 2009
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Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
1/26/2009
Transportation
If teacher assistants were required to have their CDL
(like a rural district in NC), they could drive buses.
1/27/2009
Transportation
1/28/2009
Transportation
2/16/2009
Transportation
Consider housing buses at the school first on their run
list from Monday through Thursday, returning to the
compound on Friday.
Have Apopka middle and high students ride the same
bus since middle school students will be housed on the
9th grade center campus for one year while their school
is being renovated.
Eliminate transportation for students in non-public
schools who receive public school services such as
speech/language.
2/17/2009
Transportation
Charge mileage for every bus trip, no matter how few
miles are driven.
2/23/2009
Transportation
Allow some drivers to take buses home at night if they
live closer to their first run.
2/23/2009
Transportation
2/23/2009
Transportation
2/25/2009
Transportation
3/3/2009
3/19/2009
Transportation
Transportation
OCPS buses run multi-level delivery
schedules. Assistants would lose multiple
hours of classroom time to accommodate
driving students to schools that start at varying
times.
Compounding buses is the most efficient way
to provide service. Schools are too scattered
for a cost savings.
Middle schools and high schools have
different start times.
We must provide services for students in nonpublic schools. However, we are considering
other means than transporting the students.
Toll roads are avoided when possible.
However there are times when it is necessary
to use toll roads to ensure timely service.
City and county zoning laws prohibit school
buses from being parked overnight in many
areas.
Get certified to rent out your buses for private services
State law prevents the use of district owned
and trips to raise money.
school buses being rented to private
organizations. Additionally, if the school
buses are used it takes revenue away from
the bus companies that pay taxes to run the
school buses.
Consider "wet hosing" for Transportation where a
We have tried that in the past and it did not
company is hired to fuel the buses and vehicles. This can prove to be successful.
be done off-hours.
Time for a "triple flip" - have elementary schools start at This is a school board decision.
7:30 a.m., middle schools at 8:30 a.m. and high schools
at 9:30 a.m.
Ensure that the district mileage charts are correct.
These are being checked.
Charge students for dual-enrollment transportation.
This is a school board decision.
Revised April 3, 2009
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Cost-Saving Suggestions (Emails to Web site mailboxes)
12/12/2008
2/23/2009
4/3/2009
Transportation/ESE
If students with disabilities were to be on buses with
regular education students, you would be giving them
much needed social interaction skills, communication
opportunities with age appropriate peers.
This is done at present; only ESE students
with complex problems have special buses.
VPK
Discontinue VPK in public schools until the state fulfills
the budget needs.
Eliminate the warehouse for school supplies. Use
vendors via direct purchasing agreements that will be at
least a 35% or more savings.
VPK is required by a constitutional
amendment.
Schools already have the option of purchasing
via direct purchasing agreements. Warehouse
prices are competitive and meet customer
demand.
Warehouse/
Procurement
Revised April 3, 2009
Page 97 of 97