Dear NCSSM Community Members:

As you may know, the state legislature approved its budget in late June, which included a 12.4% reduction for the UNC System. The UNC System was given management flexibility to implement the 12.4% reduction across campuses within the system. NCSSM received a reduction of 8.4%. The reductions ranged from 17.9% for UNC-CH to 8.4% for NCSSM. The School also received enrollment growth funding and increased support from the Foundation, which results in a net reduction of 6.9% or $1,278,315 for 2011-2012.

I am grateful to the Board of Governors, President Ross and staff at UNC-General Administration for the difficult job they performed in determining management flexibility reductions and the consideration given to factors that have a large impact on NCSSM.

Despite these reductions in state funding, we were extremely encouraged by the unprecedented level of private support offered by alumni, staff, parents, students and members of the NCSSM community. Spurred by the Million Dollar Match campaign and the difficult state budget situation, participation this year by alumni nearly tripled to more than 1,350 donors, or about 17 percent of all graduates. Also, nearly two-thirds of current parents and School employees made charitable gifts this past year. This amazing level of support is greatly appreciated and needed more than ever.

I want to thank the NCSSM community for its insight and input during the course of the budget process this year. More importantly, I want to thank you for all of your efforts, despite the difficult reductions of the past few years, to continue making NCSSM the finest learning environment of any high school in the nation.

Best Regards,

Todd

> See more details about how the budget reductions affect NCSSM

> See more about how annual giving has helped offset reductions

> Read about the affects of budget reductions for the UNC System