This morning in DeKalb County Georgia, DeKalb County Schools were taking many heat – and raising questions about proper use of school funds. The board of DeKalb County Schools is preparing on chopping $ 115 million out of their spending budget for this year, just to make ends meet. At the same time these cuts are happening, it seems like the school is shopping around with some money to lend to a PR firm. What's the story behind this DeKalb County Schools move?
Cutting out budget items at DeKalb County Schools
The issue of deep spending budget cuts will be addressed at DeKalb County Schools next Monday. Like just about each other school district around the country, DeKalb County Schools have to cut their spending at the very same time their costs are rising. There has been discussion of potentially closing schools, though the district has instead elected to cut 430 jobs while delaying school closures.
Will DeKalb County Schools hire a public relations firm?
It is no surprise that the DeKalb County Schools district feels that they have a PR problem – spending budget cuts and pending lawsuits and more. With these troubles, it's no wonder DeKalb County Schools feel they need help. This PR firm would be hired by DeKalb County Schools to deal with "crisis response management" and "creation of good will".
The cost to DeKalb County Schools
Numerous parents and residents are wondering why DeKalb County Schools could be using school funds to hire outside public relations. Within the world of communications and PR budgets, the $25,000 cap on the contract means the district would not be spending much. There would be no line-item cuts to pay for the PR firm — instead, the cash will come out of existing communications budgets.
Is this DeKalb County Schools decision right?
Within the end, the question is should DeKalb County Schools be spending $ 25k on a PR firm? This question can be a really tough one to answer. The district has five employees with the express job of communications. At the same time, the school district is self-aware enough to know they have a bad PR problem. Most schools are funded with local tax dollars. Without good public relations, a school district can find itself floundering. When teachers' jobs are being cut, should a school district really be spending cash on public relations? When the job is already taken care of by five separate internal employees, should they pay an outside firm to do the very same thing. How do you think they should handle this?
Sources:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-schools-looking-to-519172.html
11alive.com
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=143643&catid=3
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