Minutes - 06-12-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3. SCHOOL BUDGETS Orange County Schools Superintendent Randy Bridges made this presentation. He outlined the system priorities emphasizing high student achievement as the most important. He showed graphs comparing with previous years the end of grade test scores for grades 3-8. His recommended budget for mandated services and for inflation totals $962,222. The Pathways Elementary Phase II Funding totals $539,359. He explained the items as listed for the expansion budget, which totals $851,912. The County appropriation for 2000-2001 was $15,668,090. He is requesting for the Orange County Schools an increase of $2,353,493 or 15.2°1°. In answer to a question from Commissioner Carey, Superintendent Bridges said that they used the 3°~ increase in salary but the state's budget has not been finalized and the figure could be decreased. Commissioner Carey asked about the student population of Pathways Elementary and Superintendent Bridges said 430 students or a ratio of 1:22. Commissioner Carey asked about the timeframe for the committee that is going to discuss the feasibility of levying a district tax and Orange County School Board Chair Keith Cook said that he is hoping that a decision will be made in January or February with revenues available the next year. He feels that if the district tax is approved that the school system can borrow on the money that will be generated. Commissioner Gordon asked about the mandated items -salary increases (state), security officers (state), etc. She asked about the loss of two state-funded core teachers. Superintendent Bridges said that the state was projecting that the student enrollment would decline. Two teachers will be last as a result of the fact that actual student enrollment was less than projected student enrollment last year. In any year when actual enrollment is less than projected enrollment, the state cuts the positions the following year, and that is what happened in this case. Commissioner Gordon asked about the ratio of students to teachers and Superintendent Bridges said that for grades K-5 the ratio is 1:22 and far grades 6-12 the ratio is 1:25. Commissioner Gordon made reference to the expansion item of reducing class size and she asked in what grades this would be done. Superintendent Bridges said that this would be done in either kindergarten or first grade. More than likely, the class size will be reduced in first grade. Sacrifices have been made in other areas to achieve the existing low class sizes. Commissioner Brawn commended the Orange County school system on the test scares they have been able to obtain within the last four years. Commissioner Brown asked about the health insurance and Superintendent Bridges said that it included locally funded teachers. Commissioner Brown asked far an explanation of the committee that will be formed. Keith Cook said that the committee would be a diverse group so that there will be a cross section of the community. Susan Halkiotis said that same of what is done about a district tax is dependent upon what the County Commissioners say about additional funding from the County. There is interest among parents in the community for a district tax. Susan Halkiotis asked about the timeline for putting a district tax on the ballot for November or for May. This will be provided. John Link said that if there is a successful vote on a district tax in the Spring, the tax could be added to the tax bills going out in August 2002. Dana Thompson asked if November was a possibility. Assistant County Manager Rod Visser said that there needs to be 75-90 days lead time for a referendum. He will consult with Carolyn Thomas, Director of the Board of Elections, to get a schedule for the November and the May elections. Assuming that the Board of Education would be petitioning the Board of County Commissioners there will be a little more lead time. He said that early to mid-August might be sufficient time to petition the Board of County Commissioners. He will let the school board know.