Agenda - 04-29-2014 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 increase, however, focuses only on teachers at the lower end of the salary schedule. We do not have any additional information at this time on what might be provided for other employees. At this time we have placed $1,450,000 in our request to fund an increase of our local portion of employees' salaries. We also request $50,000 in local funding necessary to implement the new Read to Achieve legislation and $150,000 to offset a new state sales tax charge on service contracts. An unemployment reserve was approved by state law requiring the district to make payments into the reserve account with a subsequent reconciliation to occur later. We have requested $50,000 for unemployment reserves. We are currently engaged in an Equal Opportunity Schools initiative. We are requesting $30,000 to support this continued equity work. We also request $50,000 in funding to provide for required expenditures for homeless student transportation, translation and interpretation, and 504 services that traditionally increase each year. Strategic Plan Funding/Expansion Requests Our newly approved strategic plan has multiple goals and strategies. As we reviewed all budget requests, we considered their relation to our strategic plan. We are recommending funding for two items at this time. The first is to support Strategy 3.1 which focuses on external program reviews for guidance. To complete an external review of guidance services will require the hiring of an outside contractor and we are requesting $50,000 for this purpose. The second request is for $39,349 to hire an additional custodian to clean the science wing addition at Culbreth Middle School. Flinn RaEanra In 2011, the Board of Education approved a three year plan to bridge the budget gap by spending down the Local fund balance. The district had previously increased the Local fund balance by using the Federal Edu Jobs and ARRA funding to offset Local expenditures. At the time the Board approved the three year plan, it was hoped that we would be able to weather the effects of the Great Recession and hold onto needed positions and services until the economy recovered and revenues returned. While the economy has strengthened, funding for public education has not improved, especially in North Carolina. Last year the General Assembly eliminated the discretionary reduction, but did so by permanently reducing teacher positions, teacher assistant funding, and other supports to schools. This permanently altered the funding formula for teacher positions resulting in the permanent loss of about forty teacher positions and eliminating funding for about twenty -five teacher assistant positions. We do not anticipate significant increases in state revenues on the horizon and this was the final year in our three year plan to spend Local fund balance. Considering that the Board has made millions of dollars in budget reductions over the past 6 years, it will not possible to reduce this fund balance shortfall and not impact programs or positions. As the budget picture becomes clearer, we want our community to know our next steps. Our budget reduction recommendations could include gifted specialist position, media assistants, high school clerical positions, and teacher assistant positions at the elementary level. Unfortunately the state has made significant cuts to teacher assistant funding and our fund balance has been expended. We remain hopeful that we can continue these positions next year, but will be prepared to make reductions if necessary. Many teacher assistants were hired in interim positions this year and we will not permanently fill vacancies until our final budget position is known. 1-2