Orange County NC Website
Question 4 <br />Explain contingency fund amount of $166, 28 ~. <br />Contingency <br />Federal Carryover $146,281 <br />Local Contingency 20 000 <br />$166,281 <br />Superintendent Carraway made reference to a comment made at the first public <br />hearing from a 7t" grade student at Stanford Middle School. The student said, "If <br />excellence is possible, then goad is not enough." She said that for OCS, good is not <br />enough. <br />Commissioner Nelson made reference to the ESL teachers and asked for a brief <br />overview on how many there are. Superintendent Carraway said that there are five, and <br />they are shared within all schools. She said that they try and place the teachers where <br />there is the greatest need. These five teachers serve 493 students. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked Donna Coffey if the fair funding reserve has been <br />committed in full and she said yes. Commissioner Jacobs asked haw the $800,000 was <br />determined and Donna Coffey said that it was the amount in last year's Manager's <br />Recommended Budget and the Board approved it, and it was split between the two <br />school systems. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked clarifying questions about the school board's <br />request for a school health nurse and half of a social worker position. <br />Chair Carey verified that the County Commissioners expected the school system <br />to put this in the budget request rather than a supplemental request. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page 2.1 in packet and the increases <br />in support services, school administration, business support, and central support. He <br />asked if these reflect salary increases. It was answered that this does reflect salary <br />increases. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked why there was a contingency fund if there was a <br />$1.8 million fund balance. Superintendent Carraway said that it has always been in the <br />budget for whatever might be necessary. It is only $20,000. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page 2.5 and instructional materials <br />for 8t" grade. He asked if this was aone-time expense and Superintendent Carraway <br />said yes. This was included as part of the start-up costs far Gravelly Hill Middle Schaal. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about energy efficiency savings and <br />Superintendent Carraway said that it is cost avoidance and it has made huge differences <br />in utility costs. About $82,000 has been added back, because in December, the <br />management company contract expired for these services. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about the possibility of cutting athletics. <br />Superintendent Carraway said that when the school board did its priority list, athletics <br />were the very last on the list to cut. <br />OCS Board Chair Dennis Whitling said that even though the tennis courts are <br />fourth in the priority list, if the County is going to come up with its share of the tennis <br />court costs, then it may be moved up. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that to fully fund the OCS would be 7.6 cents on the <br />property tax. He asked if the OCS Board was advocating a 10-cent tax increase. <br />