CulpeperCountySchool Board10/11/2018 ~ 10:41 AM
Minutes
April 15, 2008
Page 1
CULPEPERCOUNTYSCHOOL BOARD
Minutes
April 15, 2008
A called meeting of the School Board of Culpeper County was held April 15, 2008 at the School Board Office (Colin Owens Conference Room) at 450 Radio Lane at 7 p.m. Present were Elizabeth Hutchins (Cedar Mountain District); George Dasher (Stevensburg District); Leanne Jenkins (Jefferson District); Robert Beard (East Fairfax District); Russell E. Jenkins (Catalpa District); James C. Lee (West Fairfax District); Anne C. Luckinbill (Salem District); Division Superintendent Dr. David Cox, Clerk of the Board Jeff Shomo, Director of Human Resources Starr Rowe, Parliamentarian Eric Conti, Budget Analyst Lauren Willis, Executive Director of Administrative Services Dr. Carter, and Deputy Clerk Pearl Jamison.
At 7 p.m. Mr. Dasher called the meeting to order and Dr. Cox called the roll.
Mr. Dasher thanked everyone for attending the meeting tonight on such short notice. He also thanked the staff for all their hardwork.
On motion of Mr. Beard seconded by Ms. Jenkins, the School Board approved the agenda with the following amendments: Item 5 changed to recessed called meeting and add Item 7 - adjourn closed meeting. Motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.
Mr. Dasher said through the development of the budget requests that were made we went through a number of deep cuts to the superintendent’s requested budget. He said we briefed the Board of Supervisors for $75,686,307. He said the county administrator recommended that the county fully fund the $75,686,307 which would require a 12 centtax increase. The Board of Supervisors voted to advertise a 7 cent increase to be divided (5 cent School Board/2 cent County) which was published in the newspaper. Mr. Dasher said the 5 cents translates to $72,304,576 or a deficit of $3,381,731. Mr. Dasher said tonight’s meeting will look at several options that can be used to meet the target. Mr. Dasher said the lowest we could receive is 4 cents (2 cent School Board/2 cent County). Mr. Beard said we might not receive anything.
Dr. Cox also thanked everyone for coming out. He also thanked members of the Central Office that have worked diligently on the budget and the School Board for all their hardwork.
Dr. Cox said the first page of the handout reflects a summary of how the School Board can reduce the budget by $3.4 million to meet the advertised budget.
Dr. Cox reviewed the possible expenditure reductions:
Health Insurance Cost to School Board (from $422 to $410 employer contribution) - Mr. Shomo said the HMO requires a referral from a primary care physician.
Energy Savings/Setbacks – (Cooling 78˚ and Heating 68˚ and 4 day mandatory work week during summer)
Maintenance – (Defer resurfacing of AG/PS parking lots)
Diesel Fuel increase
Summer School Centralization–(M-Th in one school only)
Reducing induction from 5 days to 2 days
Further reduction of new staffing needs (from $2,239,855 to $1,637,081 by reduction in office staff, high school teachers, resource teachers, C & T Business Liaison, guidance/testing coordinator, and security officer)
Beginning teacher pay $37,620 (from $38,000 to $37,620)
Teacher step increase eliminated
Reduction in Force – (through attrition)
Program Limitation – (rework extended day/remediation, reduce professional development conferences, ESL summer school, parents as partners, DI Program, and summer school for credit)
Retirement replacements (4)
Ms. Jenkins thanked the staff for preparing this proposal. She said the community needs to be aware that the level of service will be affected from cutting staff.
Mr. Jenkins said staff needs to also look at cutting other positions rather than teachers – i.e., groundskeepers and CISCO engineer.
Dr. Conti said SycamorePark and Farmington received funding through a 21st Century Grant. He said that grant gives the schools $120,000 per year for three years.
Dr. Cox reviewed the possible revenue increases:
Miscellaneous Revenue – (increased building use by outside organizations, insurance rebates, jury duty, and ROTC)
Food Service Billings –(reimburse for inspections, trash, worker’s compensation) possible increase in lunch price at elementary level
Drivers Education – ($25,000 returned to operating budget from fees collected)
Parking – (increase from $50 to $100 per year for student parking and $18,000 returned to operating budget)
Ms. Hutchins noted that she has a personal interest in the budget and has filed a disclosure statement with the clerk.
Ms. Hutchins asked if the berm will be removed at CCHS when EVHS opens. Dr. Cox said perhaps but it is not reflected in the budget.
Mr. Dasher said the staff has prepared a way of getting to $72,304,576. Mr. Dasher said the other possibility would have to be considered if we are looking at 2 cents vs. 5 cents.
Mr. Beard noted that he has a personal interest in the budget and has filed a disclosure statement with the clerk; however, he does not have a personal interest in the discussion of daycare fees. Mr. Beard thanked Mr. Dasher for working with staff to develop a budget that will show us and the community what the school system budget would look like at $72.3 million. Mr. Beard said anything below the $72.3 million will be bare bones. He said we have a very slender estimated fund balance. He said more painful cuts have happened, but at this point, we can still open our two new schools.
Mr. Dasher said when we started looking at FY09 we knew we would be looking at a significant amount of inflation. He said he regrets that there is no salary movement in the proposal for staff. He said the reduction of staff is a terrible choice but that is what it takes to get to the $72,304,576.
Ms. Jenkins said she feels this budget is a reduction in school board values. She said these reductions will truly hurt our system – SOL scores and class size. She said we can’t deal with this kind of a budget and still deal with achievement.
Ms. Hutchins concurred. She said the cuts will significantly decrease academic achievement. She said this budget is beyond bare bones. She said other counties are offering a raise and/or step.
Ms. Jenkins said teachers will leave for more money and she would rather see class sizes increase rather than just hire a warm body.
Mr. Beard said we are looking at an advertised budget of $72.3 million and we have no control over what we actually will get.
The board observed a 10 minute break from 8:30 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.
Mr. Dasher said staff also prepared a proposal in case the school system only receives 2 cents. Mr. Beard said the worse we could be looking at is no tax increase. Mr. Dasher said there is no formula to get to zero.
Dr. Cox reviewed further possible expenditure reductions:
Cut secondary athletic programs – (impacts would be academic achievement, attendance, school spirit, community spirit, increased truancy and dropouts)
Mr. Dasher said this cut would clearly impact academic achievement and create real problems.
Ms. Jenkins said this cut will have financial impact on the community, not just the kids and the teachers. She said it would create a fast road to losing accreditation.
Mr. Beard said this is impossible to comprehend. He said this cut will increase problems of all different shapes and sizes. He said these programs are not required by state law.
Mr. Lee noted that he has a personal interest in the budget and has filed a disclosure statement with the clerk. He said he has a ruling from the Commonwealth Attorney that he can participate in discussion on day care fairly. He suggested that board members meet one on one with their supervisor. He said athletics helps a lot of students get scholarships. Mr. Lee said if we do this we will damage the community as a whole.
Dr. Cox reviewed further possible revenue increases:
Increase building use fees (15-20%)
Bill HS Athletics & School for field trips
Bill Transportation for Head Start
Bill Daycare Utilities and Use Fee
Ms. Jenkins asked if the School Board has ever considered charging a fee for students to ride the bus. Ms. Roberts said it was looked at and it was decided that a lot of the students who ride the bus cannot afford to pay to ride the bus. Ms. Jenkins said she feels parents would rather pay for their child to ride the bus rather than cut teaching positions.
Mr. Beard said the school system is only responsible for transporting students who are disabled – otherwise there is no statutory requirement for the school system to provide transportation.
Ms. Hutchins asked if we know how much DSS would have to raise fees to offset the $159,900. Mr. Beard said about $15 per child per week.
Mr. Beard agreed that each board member should meet with their supervisor. Mr. Dasher said he would be willing to attend meetings with supervisors as well.
The called meeting recessed at 9:04 p.m.
On motion of Ms. Jenkins seconded by Ms. Hutchins, the School Board went into closed session immediately regarding:
[a]Discussion of Personnel relative to budget constraints for FY09
as permitted by the Code of Virginia 2.2-3711 (A) (1)
Motion carried 7-0 by voice vote.
On motion of Ms. Hutchinsseconded by Mr. Beard, the School Board ended the closed session at 9:51 p.m. and certified by the following roll call vote that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements and only the items included in the motion to go into closed session were discussed:
YEAS: 7
Robert Beard
George Dasher
Elizabeth Hutchins
Leanne Jenkins
Russell Jenkins
James Lee
Anne Luckinbill
Mr. Beard left the meeting at 10:00 p.m.
After the closed session, the school board discussed custodial staffing at EVHS.
On motion of Ms. Jenkins seconded by Ms. Hutchins, the School Board voted to adjourn at 10:07 p.m. Motion carried 6-0 by voice vote.
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JEFFREY R. SHOMO, CLERKGEORGE T. DASHER, CHAIR