$8.8M short: Superintendent, commissioners blame growth for Johnston schools budget hole

As Johnston County's population booms, the public schools budget has failed to keep pace, leaving schools scrambling to fill a shortfall of more than $10 million, and prompting public finger-pointing about spending choices past and future.

Posted 7:15 p.m. Dec 2, 2019 — Updated 10:28 p.m. Dec 2, 2019

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter,

and

Jodi Leese Glusco, WRAL.com director of content

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — As Johnston County's population booms, the public schools budget has failed to keep pace, leaving schools scrambling to fill a shortfall of more than $10 million, and prompting public finger-pointing about spending choices past and future.

The latest accusation of incompetence came in the form of an editorial written for The Johnston County Report by a school board member and published on the day after Thanksgiving.

"The financial crisis plaguing Johnston County Public Schools is a result of poor decisions and a lack of leadership," wrote Ronald Johnson. He went on to detail where he believes the county schools have gone wrong.

Jim Causby, named interim superintendent of the school system in September after the abrupt retirement of Dr. Ross Renfrow, has asked county commissioners to help close the funding gap and has demonstrated to them the $7 million in cuts he has already made.

(Among the school system's expenses is a $75,000 lump separation sum paid to Renfrow in addition to other retirement benefits.)

Causby was the superintendent in Johnston County from 1994-2004. He has 30 years' experience as a superintendent in six different school districts. Prior to returning as the interim superintendent, Causby was semi-retired, serving as an education consultant.

The budget proposal submitted in May by the Johnston County Board of Education for the 2019-20 school year estimates that expenses will increase by 32%, capital expenses by 47% and asks for a total increase of $20.5 million or 32.25%.

Causby estimates the school system needs nearly $77 million to operate for the school year. The budget allows for close to $68 million.

"To fully meet this year’s budget, we need $8.8 million in additional funds," he said.

Johnston County Public Schools have gained more than 5,000 students since 2011, and one of the greatest cost increases has come in the support of "exceptional" children, a group of more than 9,000 that includes those with learning disabilities and the academically gifted.

Causby told the school board that he discovered the budget shortfall in October and has already taken steps to eliminate more than $7 million in expenditures by getting rid of vacant positions and cutting supplies.

Mike Wooten, chairman of the Johnston County Board of Education, said population growth and rising costs have led to many budget challenges.

"We have identified the reasons for our shortfall," Wooten said in an email to WRAL News. "All of our adjustments are centered around protecting the classroom, teachers and students."

It will be up to county commissioners to decide if the schools will get the money they are asking for.

"If there’s not some additional funding, there’s going to have to be some actions taken, and that’s either a reduction in force, which would mean people’s jobs," Causby said.

Ted Godwin, chairman of the Johnston County Board of Commissioners, says they are committed to keeping the schools afloat, and that he doesn't see any red flags in how money has been spent in the past.

"We’re all working together to go forward to try to meet those needs," Godwin said.

The school board meets again on Dec. 10, when members will face Johnson and his very public allegations of mismanagement.

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