BOE Discusses Budget, Positions to be Cut Next Year

6:30 p.m. – A few people trickle into the Athens-Clarke County Board of Education building right as the BOE’s agenda setting meeting is being called to order, with all members present.

6:33 p.m. – The only item of old business on the agenda – the naming of the W.R. Coile Middle School library - is removed.

6:34 p.m. – Moving into new business, the board adopts a GBP Professional Personnel Policy so that it now aligns with the state. Previously, Clarke County had until April 15 to give contracts, but that rule is now suspended. The new deadline is May 15.

6:36 p.m. – The board is reviewing the night’s consent agenda. On it, items include: buying a steamer, buying a serving line, renovating a science room and custodial contract extensions. Additionally, Superintendent Philip Lanoue recommends that beginning July 15, the district will have a 5-year contract with Coca-Cola. The past 10 years, the county had been with Pepsi.

6:40 p.m. – Discussion now moves into proposed meal price increases for the 2011-2012 school year. Lanoue recommends that the district follow the federal guidelines. These guidelines have the prices increasing as follows: 15 cents for elementary schools, 20 cents for middles schools, and 25 cents for high schools. Among other rate increases for next year is a raise to the transportation mileage rate on field trips and contract service rates.

“We’ve kept our prices for field trips and those kinds of things to a certain amount,” Lanoue said. “We need to raise the rate.”

The last time the rate was tweaked was in 2008 – when it was $1.50. The new rate will be $2.25 per mile.

6:47 p.m. – Lanoue jumps into budget talk at this point, starting by reading a letter he wrote to the board.

“Our goal was – and remains – to ensure we can maintain effective programs, implement new programs to support district goals and be fiscally responsible,” Lanoue reads. 

While the budget reflects redirections, Lanoue points out that it does not solve all the district's problems.

6:56 p.m. – Associate Superintendent Ted Gilbert  joins the conversation stating that the projected beginning fund balance for the new budget sits at $18,106,000.

7:05 p.m. – Lanoue and Gilbert brief the board on “must dos” for the next school year. Things that must be taken into consideration are: teacher step increases - $1.5 million; insurance premium increases - $740,305; utility rate increases - $90,400; Career Academy operations - $616,710; and Career Academy one-time costs - $225,000. These total $3,172,415.

BOE member Vernon Payne asks that Public Relations and Communications Director Anissa Sullivan Jimenez let the county residents know about these increases “loud and clear.”

7:14 p.m. – Lanoue announces classified salary schedule adjustments costing the district $133,000. This move affects 232 employees, allowing them three less furlough days than employees making more money.

“We feel strongly that we need to support our lowest paid employees,” Lanoue said.

7:25 p.m. – Total reductions from last year equate to $4,322,145, including cut positions and restructuring some programs. Among cut programs, is the teaching of a computer class that teaches Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel. Lanoue said students are learning these programs at an earlier age than where it falls in the curriculum.

7:28 p.m. – Projected revenue is announced to be $113,602,014, with expenses to the tune of $121,436,291. The final fund balance hits at $9,836,086.

7:32 p.m. – Lanoue closes his presentation and thanks all those who helped develop the proposed budget. Public hearings on the budget are scheduled for May 17, 24 and 26.

7:33 p.m. – The BOE jumps right into reduction in force talk.

“It’s hard to give up programs,” Lanoue said. “It’s even harder to let people go.”

Overall, 55 certified positions and 70.1 classified positions will be cut. This amount includes teachers, vocational positions, part-time health and music teachers, and positions that were given from ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds that had a two-year limit anyway.

7:52 p.m. – The board enters into executive session to discuss personnel matters. Staff begin putting away meeting materials and the room clears.

The BOE will meet for its voting meeting Thursday, April 14.