CulpeperCountySchool Board
Minutes

October 1, 2007

Page 1

CULPEPERCOUNTYSCHOOL BOARD
Minutes

October 1, 2007

A budget work session of the School Board of Culpeper County was held October 1, 2007 in the School Board Central Office (Colin Owens Conference Room) at 450 Radio Lane at 6:00 p.m.

Present were Elizabeth Hutchins (Cedar Mountain District), Chair; Robert Beard (East Fairfax District); George Dasher (Stevensburg District), Vice-Chair;Robert L. Jenkins III (Catalpa District); Claudia Vento (West Fairfax District); Leanne Jenkins (Jefferson District); Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Eric Conti; Clerk of the Board Jeff Shomo, Director of Human Resources Starr Rowe, Benefits Specialist Angela Flowers, Budget Analyst Lauren Willis-Thomas, Superintendent Dr. David Cox, and Deputy Clerk Pearl Jamison. Jennifer McCauley (Salem District) was absent.

At 6:00 p.m. Ms. Hutchins called the meeting to order and Dr. Cox called the roll.

On motion of Ms. Jenkins seconded by Mr. Dasher, the board adopted the agenda as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by voice vote.

Budget Work Session

Dr. Cox said staff will analyze any topics that cannot be answered tonight prior to the next meeting.

Mr. Shomo distributed a preliminary 30 day count for September 30th. He said the ADM for September 28this 7383 for K-12. He said we had budgeted 7644. Mr. Shomo said after October we will be able to better project our shortages.

Dr. Cox said the FY08 budget was built on 7644 students. He said we are short 261 students. He said the SOC projections were 7105-7724 students. He said since our last meeting we received the Weldon Cooper update and they projected 7634 students for 07/08.

Ms. Rowe referred members to the 13 division comparisons in their packet. Ms. Flowers reviewed the FY09 Summary of Budget Expenditures.

Mr. Beard and Ms. Hutchins stated that they have a personal interest in this discussion because their spouses are both employed by Culpeper County Public Schools. They both indicated that they are able to participate in the transaction fairly, objectively, and in the best interest of the public.

Further discussion ensued regarding the extended service program. Mr. Shomo said ESP participants will pay taxes on their income.

Ms. Flowers said we have 776 Anthem active employee policies, 43 Anthem retiree policies, and 32 Anthem food service policies.

Ms. Flowers said we have established a corporate account with PowellWellnessCenter. She said employees will receive 50% of the one-time enrollment fee of $100.

Mr. Beard asked what is paid toward on an employee’s insurance. Mr. Shomo said the school system pays $422 each month per employee and the employee pays $32.

Dr. Cox said currently when a person retires from CCPS and has accumulated sick days they are paid $20 per day. He said across the state there are a lot of different practices. He said staff is recommending to pay the VRS per diem on 50% of the sick days. He said VRS is based on the highest 3 years in an employee’slength of service. He said if we considered all our employees with 30 years and more the additional cost over the current policy would be $22,726.74. Dr. Cox said Prince Edward County Schools has a policy similar to this. Ms. Hutchins and Ms. Jenkins agreed that this would be a good option for employees.

Ms. Willis-Thomas reviewed the fringes an employee receives. Further discussion ensued.

Ms. Vento said perhaps we need to rethink the salary increases. Ms. Willis said for teachers only it is $2.4 million to increase teacher salaries from 07/08 to 08/09. Ms. Vento asked to see some different percentages.

Mr. Beard asked what the estimated salaries for teachers for 2007/2008 would be. Ms. Willis said she estimates $26.6 million for teachers.

Mr. Beard asked what it would cost to just move teachers one step. Ms. Willis said $520,000.

Ms. Hutchins asked board members to let Jeff and Lauren know of specific scenarios they would like run.

Mr. Dasher said he would like to see the percent increase in a column with base going to $39,000 and $40,000 with a step.

Dr. Cox said all other employees would receive a 4% increase and would not move a step.

Ms. Jenkins said she would like to see calculations with keeping with the $38,000. She also asked staff to show the actual number of teachers on each step.

Mr. Beard said 85% of our budget is in compensation. He said if we have to cut our budget we may have to look at salaries.

Mr. Beard asked how we calculate additional positions that are needed. Dr. Cox said they are calculated based on the enrollment.

Ms. Willis said every $1000 on the scale cost $970,000. She said the numbers in the proposed budget is based on employees from last year. Ms. Willis said the shaded areas indicate that Culpeper is at or above the midpoint.

Mr. Shomo distributed a sheet which indicates the number of positions in each category.

Mr. Beard said teachers are not overpaid. He said teachers are worth more than they are paid. He said the real issue is allocating the resources.

On motion of Ms. Vento seconded by Ms. Jenkins, the Board voted to adjourn at 7:34 p.m. Motion carried 6-0 by voice vote.

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JEFFREY R. SHOMO, CLERKELIZABETH HUTCHINS, CHAIR