In Georgia, DeKalb County Schools are facing many questions about what the proper use of school funds can be. $ 115 million is due to be cut from the DeKalb County Schools budget – just for the next year. At the same time these cuts are happening, it appears like the school is shopping around with some money to lend to a PR firm. What is the story with DeKalb County Schools?
Cutting budgets at DeKalb County Schools
The issue of deep budget cuts can be addressed at DeKalb County Schools next Monday. Like just about every 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?
With pending lawsuits over spending, even more spending budget cuts, and a severe public relations problem, it is no surprise that DeKalb County Schools feels it needs help. It's not surprise that DeKalb County Schools feel they need help, given all these issues. 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
The possibility that DeKalb County Schools can be hiring an outside public-relations firm is leaving numerous wondering about use of school funds. The directors are saying the contract would be capped at $ 25,000 – relatively little within the world of PR budgets. The schools' communication budget would take the cost of the PR firm, not line-item cuts to the school budget.
Is this DeKalb County Schools decision right?
In the end, the question is should DeKalb County Schools be spending $ 25k on a PR firm? This is a difficult question to answer. The school district already employs five separate communications employees. The district recognizes, though, that they have a significant PR problem. Most schools are funded with local tax dollars. School districts can find itself floundering when they start a spiral of bad public relations. At the same time, when budgets are being tightened and teachers are losing their jobs, should a school district really be spending additional money? When the district has five employees that already have the job set to be hired out, should they be hiring the job out. What's your opinion?
Sources for this article:
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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