Poor budgeting and lackluster recruitment efforts continue to take a heavy financial toll on FAMU’s Developmental Research School.
Superintendent Ronald Holmes, brother of FAMU Trustee R.B. Holmes, distributed a letter last month informing DRS stakeholders that the school needs $175,000 by March 31st.
Holmes cited the increased operational costs DRS incurred as a result of its recent move into a new $30.6M building as the reason for the money crunch. According to The FAMUan: “Bills for utilities, telephone, postage and copiers are estimated to be 41.8 percent higher than last year. Miscellaneous things such as lawn services, security and administrative fees are projected to be 100 percent higher.”
The letter asks 175 DRS supporters to contribute $1,000 to meet the $175,000 goal.
Holmes’ failure as a recruiter accounts for a big part of DRS’ current budget troubles.
Superintendent Ronald Holmes, brother of FAMU Trustee R.B. Holmes, distributed a letter last month informing DRS stakeholders that the school needs $175,000 by March 31st.
Holmes cited the increased operational costs DRS incurred as a result of its recent move into a new $30.6M building as the reason for the money crunch. According to The FAMUan: “Bills for utilities, telephone, postage and copiers are estimated to be 41.8 percent higher than last year. Miscellaneous things such as lawn services, security and administrative fees are projected to be 100 percent higher.”
The letter asks 175 DRS supporters to contribute $1,000 to meet the $175,000 goal.
Holmes’ failure as a recruiter accounts for a big part of DRS’ current budget troubles.
Despite the fact that DRS has a brand new state-of-the-art building and the Leon County School Board recently shut down an entire middle school (Belle Vue), Holmes could not boost DRS’ student numbers enough to bring in the money required for this year’s budget. Enrollment only reached 544 this year after Holmes projected 600. The new DRS building is designed for 764 students.
At first, Holmes planned to lay off nine teachers to help him balance the budget. However, Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris swooped in to save the jobs before Holmes could start swinging the ax.
The dire budget situation comes in the wake of spiraling test performance at the school. Even though Holmes was touted as a test prep specialist when he was hired, DRS dropped from a “C” to “D” grade on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test last year.
As Holmes looks for ways to balance the budget, he should begin by returning his $110,000 per year salary. It damn sure doesn’t look like he’s done $110,000 worth of work.
Rattlers who are sick and tired of the Holmes brothers’ shenanigans should also contact Gov. Charlie Crist and let him know how you feel about what they’re doing to FAMU.
At first, Holmes planned to lay off nine teachers to help him balance the budget. However, Provost Cynthia Hughes-Harris swooped in to save the jobs before Holmes could start swinging the ax.
The dire budget situation comes in the wake of spiraling test performance at the school. Even though Holmes was touted as a test prep specialist when he was hired, DRS dropped from a “C” to “D” grade on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test last year.
As Holmes looks for ways to balance the budget, he should begin by returning his $110,000 per year salary. It damn sure doesn’t look like he’s done $110,000 worth of work.
Rattlers who are sick and tired of the Holmes brothers’ shenanigans should also contact Gov. Charlie Crist and let him know how you feel about what they’re doing to FAMU.
How does RN pick and chose who it targets now? I dont understand? The Good Rev. Doctor's brother is persona non grata with RN. This is suprising to me since he was Ammons pick? I agree but we dont need to call Charlie he has bigger fish to fry. Why dont u suggest we call Ammons? Why arent there any post on the Boy's BBALL team only winning 6 games the whole season!!!! Or how screwed up COE is? And the COE is over the DRS! It is a joke and a very good story to investigate. I just dont get it....
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous post. I'm a big supporter of Dr. Ammons but we need put his feet to the fire on this one. I bleed Orange & Green but the issues @ DRS is disgusting! A total embarrassment! It's getting hard, nearly impossible to convince non-rattlers in the community why DRS should remain open. And that a shame.
ReplyDeleteGood commentary RN.The people need to contact Crist not Ammons. Ammons not going to do a damn thing.Ammons is behind the Holmes brother shenanigan.Ammons is concern about one person and that is himself.It's sad.
ReplyDeleteIf the University would pay more attention to the COE and the equipment they have to teach with instead of trying to start NEW PROGRAMS, you might get somewhere. You have educational programs that are not even in COE, and CESTA that only graduates 1,2 or 3 people from their programs. You have facualty that do not even come and teach their classes. There is a lot going on, let's fix what we have and stop the mess. I should say, let's bring what we have into the 21st Century, Education is the key to Economic Development.
ReplyDeleteSo is the community
ReplyDeletethe Community is the Key but if everyone is sitting back and waiting for someone else to move it, then no one goes anywhere. Everyone stand up and let's not be blind to what is going on. Get your own agenda and push forward. You should never have to rely on certain people to run a program, what you have is a lack of a system and people trained to enact the system. If everybody knows what the right and left hand are doing you will have no problems. Train your staff, performance counseling, and fire people who are not part of the team. There are people at FAMU that hold on to information, know that if they go the college will fail and you will have to ask them for help. Shame on you if you are letting this happen, there are no I(s) in TEAM or SUCCESS. Self Serving is not cute. Let's get through this one also; a shark moves forward, a crab moves sideways, which one are you
ReplyDeleteSuggesting that Holmes "return" his salary is a juvenile comment. I know that the comment was meant in jest, but really. While I certainly understand the enormity of the academic and financial situation at the school, perhaps a more substantial response would be the solicitation and engagement of the community in spearheading his removal from the position. While that, too, might be a bit severe, in light of the fact that the University would certainly have to pay the remainder of his contract, something must be done to ensure the students' academic preparation and the ensure the academic integrity of the school.
ReplyDeleteCORRECTION on my post below:
ReplyDelete"... to ensure that the academic integrity of the school remains" if, in fact it is even there.