Minutes 06-05-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mike Kelly said the higher beginning number resulted in a higher ending number and saved about one position at each of the high schools. Commissioner McKee said that would make sense at any rate and that would be the goal even if you were not in this situation. Mike Kelly said that would mean fewer courses for students to take. Commissioner McKee asked about the reference to counselors. Mike Kelly said one of their goals for this year was to review their counseling program. He said this was to be launched through a contracted study that would have cost $30,000. Michelle Brownstein said that study was a priority because it impacted their most fragile students, and there was some disparity among the counseling across the district. She said this has been postponed at this point. Mike Kelly said social capital is a huge factor in the differences in student success. Commissioner McKee said he is uncomfortable with this dance, and he hopes that at some point the Board and the schools can figure out a way to meet in the middle. He said he needs to see priorities. Michelle Brownstein this year is different, and what the school board presented was not an expansion budget, but it expressed the needs in order to keep the status quo. She said the schools are at their bare bones, and this will impact the classrooms on multiple levels. Mike Kelly said there was discussion about how much money was needed to just maintain the current services, and this number was $3.2 million. He said, unlike every other year, the initial decision was to ask for less, and this resulted in the superintendent's recommendation. He said once the school board saw the impact to the school programs, the decision was made to ask for what was needed. Commissioner Rich said this year is different, but she thinks this is the beginning of what the "new normal" is going to be down the road. She said it may be necessary to re-think how this budget process is done. Chair Jacobs said a plan is needed, and it may be an unpleasant plan, because the County does not have the resources available to the state. He said information needs to be carefully presented to the public about budget funding. He said it is time to get past how things have been done and accept the new normal. He said it is important to band together to see what can be done and how to plan differently for school funding in the future. 3. Sportsplex, Pq. 430 Paul Laughton referred to highlights of the 2013-2014 outcomes on page 430. He noted the projected revenue increase of 5.1 percent and the expenditures increase of 3.5, as outlined on page 431. John Stock said their revenues year-to-date are up 8 percent, $200,000, and operating expenses are up only 1 percent, so profit is up about 50 percent. He gave a breakdown of individual program increases. He said the Little Learners program has been incredibly rewarding and successful. John Stock said the budget for next year includes lower revenue, because the goal is to budget conservatively. Commissioner Rich asked if fees have been raised in the past year and how scholarships are given to disadvantaged members of the community. John Stock said there were minimal increases to the access fees for swimming and fitness passes. He said staff is looking to make changes in pool usage costs, because that is one of the most expensive assets. He said the goal is just to get back to market pricing. He said scholarships are a little tough. He said Kidsplex works with Department of Social Services (DSS) and there are national scholarships offered at times for families in need.