Minutes 04-25-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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average by nearly $10,000. He noted that experienced teachers make $5000 per year less than 4 years ago. Commissioner McKee noted that the sequestration rates were different between the two school systems. Todd Lofriese said the CHCCS number was recommended by the finance officer and Superintendent Rhodes said OCS based this number on an estimate average of districts that ranged from 4% to 11%; and a middle ground was chosen. Commissioner McKee noted the OCS $17,000 item under exceptional children and asked for elaboration on the status of computers in the classrooms. Superintendent Forcella said the goal is to reach a two to one ratio for computers, which is required for testing. He said the biggest issue is making sure all students have access. He said there is also a community based program to buy computers for children who don't have them. Todd Lofriese said that $17,000 figure is specifically for exceptional children and may be specialty technology for the hearing or visually impaired population. Commissioner McKee he wanted to make sure that internet access is not exclusive to the rural parts of the county. Chair Jacobs said Congressman Price asked the districts to identify the consequences of sequestration so that he could articulate its impact on the residents. Commissioner Pelissier asked for an explanation of how teacher salaries decreased. Todd Lofriese said these reductions relate to hiring teachers. He said the General Assembly has frozen wages and the steps in wages. This has resulted in compression and teachers have stayed at the same rate for years. He said this means that many seasoned and new teachers have the same salary. Commissioner Pelissier asked for an explanation of Northside and the high costs to open a new school. Todd Lofriese said there are a variety of operational costs from utilities to custodial and cleaning support. He said the state also does not fully fund assistant principals in all schools. The supplement pay for additional principal and assistant principal comes from local funds. He said many teacher assistants are locally funded because the state does not fund 1:1 teacher assistants in grades 1-3. He said local funding is also needed for support services, such as for exceptional children program facilitators, social workers, and guidance counselors. Chair Jacobs noted that Page 2.8 in CHCCS budget has the cost breakdown. Commissioner Pelissier asked if these local funded positions pertain only to the elementary level. Todd Lofriese said the great majority are elementary staff. He said this budget is in line the budget for the opening of Morris Grove Elementary. Commissioner Dorosin clarified that the salary compression figures do not include the local supplement. Todd Lofriese said the county funds directly support the local supplement, so this is a percentage on top of the salary, dependent on years of experience. Chair Jacobs said the message he is hearing is, when it comes to public education, North Carolina is becoming the stingiest state. 2. Other Discussion Items: Pre-K, Legislative Update, and Culbreth Science Wing Debt Financing Scenarios