School Budget Forwarded
Published 4:20 pm Tuesday, March 26, 2013
PRINCE EDWARD – The County school board closed the books on their budget request last Wednesday and now it will be up to supervisors at what level they will fund the schools.
And the school board is seeking more for school operating costs-specifically asking the County to chip in an additional $1,387,919 or (factoring an Average Daily Membership of 2,180) or a total of $9,494,571 in local dollars.
Among the highlights of the budget request:
*The proposal factors $614,423 less in federal funds, $318,900 less in Title I 1003a federal funds, and $194,670 less in state funds-or a total proposed revenue reduction of $1,127,993.
*There are also expenditure increases totaling $1,398,968 that factor in a four percent salary increase for all employees, $666,380; health insurance premium increase of $90,000; school improvement specialist, $80,450; occupational therapist/physical therapist projected increase, $75,000; elementary school requested increase of $33,000; middle school requested increases of $6,562; and a high school requested increase of $33,587; addition of a special education/homebound teacher, $50,000; athletic trainer/weight trainer, $50,000; elementary school resource officer, $49,400; placing current teachers on correct salary scale, $51,800; and funding for two buses and two vans, $212,789.
*Overall, with funding reductions and additions, the total budget would increase $578,826 over the current year; the total budget with all funding sources is proposed at $26,244,906.
County supervisors will have the final say-so on school funding. The superintendent is scheduled to present the approved budget to the board of supervisors on Tuesday, April 9 and the board's public hearing has been slated for Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m.
In separate action, the school board approved a $11,970,375 five-year capital improvement plan for projects expected to cost $50,000 or more. The biggest change from a preliminary proposal was to move of the athletic complex renovation from the first year of the plan to the second year.
That project alone is estimated to cost $5.3 million.
First-year projects include planning/engineering for the athletic complex renovation; replacing the plumbing lines for three buildings that are underground and corroded ($114,269), replacing the locks for all doors ($120,000); enclosing the fifth grade wing entryway to the main building at the middle school ($83,774); planning/engineering for roof repair/replacement at the middle school; and the replacement of three buses ($300,000). Three buses are included in every year of the five-year capital improvement plan.
Second-year projects, in addition to the athletic complex renovation, factor $1,201,643 for middle school roof repair/replacement and three additional bus replacements ($300,000).
Third-year projects include HVAC controls on all heating/cooling units to tie into computer controls ($143,100); replacing HVAC units at the middle school ($159,000); renovation of the auditorium-obsolete wiring, ceiling tiles, carpet and seating ($180,000), roof repair/replacement at the high school $1,076,944; pressure washing, leveling uneven areas, filling cracks and repaving the tennis courts ($78,000), and three bus replacements ($300,000).
The fourth-year of the CIP plan factors roof repair/replacements on four buildings ($1,119,934), roof replacement at the career tech center ($459,316); replacing the wall units for heating/cooling for five buildings at the elementary school ($374,395); and three bus replacements ($300,000).
The fifth and final year of the plan factors telephone replacement ($100,000); replace/relocate the greenhouse at the high school ($80,000); and three bus replacements ($300,000).
The capital improvement budget will be presented to County supervisors.
The school board had advertised a request for proposals for health insurance plans for employees. Results include a mix of options including self-insurance. (The current plan is projected to increase 5.8 percent.) The board was presented a report from an insurance consultant; overall nine proposals were received.
The board held off on a decision, but asked for an extension on the renewal of the Local Choice plan, which would extend through June 30.
The school board also advertised and received a report on outsourcing custodial services. Currently, the work is being done with existing staff. Three proposals were received with two options-the firm selecting its workers or having the selected firm retain custodial workers with at least ten years of service (a total of six). There would be little or no savings in the three proposals if the workers are retained (the most potential savings $21,948.43) and the most potential overall savings if they are not required to hire the long-time employees projected at $306,699.
The school board was also presented the results of a survey of teachers and administrators from the three schools reflecting levels of satisfaction at each of the three schools.
School board members eschewed action, opting to wait to see what the school will look like before making a decision.
The school board, also in separate action, approved the preliminary food services budget. The $1,181,676 budget includes state and federal dollars as well as sales, but does not include local funds.
Division Superintendent Dr. David Smith reported that they have been asked by the Virginia School Boards Association and the Superintendent's Association to voice opposition to two pending legislative issues: An A-F grading scale for schools, which Smith noted goes beyond the state method of ranking and communicating school performance and legislation that would allow for essentially state take over of failing schools.
“And, as you know, that was initially discussed as starting with about four schools in the state and expanding to about 150 and there are continuing efforts to expand that further,” he said. “And … there are several problems with that and one is that for every school that's taken over by the state, all of the funding including local funding goes to this new board for the operation.”
The superintendent added that there's still a concern that's not been resolved about federal funding, but for many schools that are failing schools, it's significant federal dollars that cannot be transferred to another entity. He offered that there are still some problems with this that have to be ironed out.
School board members agreed to draft a letter from the superintendent and chairman stating their opposition.