Minutes - 19990608 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Superintendent Randy Bridges pointed out that the Orange County Board of Education initiatives are part of what the County Commissioners asked them to do last year, which was to spend money from fund balance. He went over some of the new initiatives. They would like to consider a non-negotiable appropriation of $889,225. He explained that the first three positions are listed as expansion items, but they are really non-funded mandates. The exceptional children population is growing and they do not have an option. The state does not fund the expenses for special needs children. He explained the need for a Pre-K Teacher. He said that Orange County still does not have a Pre-K program or Head Start. In a system-wide survey, the number one thing that the parents requested was to have Spanish classes in the elementary schools, and there are three of these positions in the budget. He explained the need for the remainder of the initiatives. He said that the biggest item on the list is the increase in the local teacher supplements. He explained that this is to compete with the surrounding counties. He explained what the Orange County School system considers as non-negotiable items: the mandates, the three Exceptional Children positions, the year-round programming, and the local supplement that comes to $1,513,348. This amount is under the $1,540,776 that the staff recommended. Superintendent Randy Bridges made reference to the fund balance. He pointed out that in the 1997- 1998 school year and the 1998-1999 school year they appropriated 1.8 million dollars from their fund balance. They have been advised that this amount should not go any higher. They would like to get this amount decreased. He explained that they could prioritize the items in the budget that are not funded and fund them through fund balance. Another option is that they could use the entire amount of the fund balance as startup costs for the new elementary school. They would like to have some money in reserve. He said that the fund balance would be spent. Their concern is that this balance is their safety net and it is being removed. Delores Simpson, Chair of the Orange County School Board, said that they are here to support their budget. She feels that the County Commissioners should give more to the schools. She said that if the Orange County School system is going to keep going and progressing as in the past, they will need additional funding. c. Questions from the Board of County Commissioners - Orange County Commissioner Carey asked about the 2.7% for fund balance and it was clarified that this would be 2.7% of the total end-of-year expenditures. Commissioner Carey asked about the three slides that were presented with salary enhancements and asked if there was anything in the Manager's budget that would preclude them from doing the salary enhancements. Superintendent Randy Bridges said that the danger with funding the salary enhancements from the fund balance is that these are permanent items and not just one-time expenditures. Commissioner Brown asked for general information about the dropout rate. Superintendent Randy Bridges said that the dropout rate for this year was 2.13%, which is down from 3%. Commissioner Brown asked for information on how they are working with their non-proficient students. Superintendent Randy Bridges said that they are appropriating funds per pupil to enable them to hire tutors during the school day and after school. They use state dollars to run this program. They use reading recovery teachers for the non-proficient students also. Commissioner Brown asked about the Pre-K program. Randy Bridges said that they want to start a Pre-K program and expand to the other Elementary schools during the next few years until they have one in every Elementary school. Orange County School Board member Susan Doverbarger made reference to the expansion items and said that there is a significant part of the budget that is geared toward special populations. When the school board discussed this, they realized that more and more dollars are going into education of special populations for which they do not get any federal or state funds. More local funds are going into educating the special population, and less is going toward the middle, where they need to maintain and improve. Keith Cook made reference to the Pre-K program and noted that there are a large number of kids who come to Kindergarten who are unprepared. He feels there needs to be a large community effort in reaching these kids and providing a Pre-K in every Elementary school will definitely help. Orange County School Board member Brenda Stephens asked that the County Commissioners realize that these are the needs of our children.