Agenda - 06-16-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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11 1 Del Burns said he did not know the exact number for OCS, but that the percentage did 2 increase significantly. He said information gathered through exit interviews points to this 3 turnover being due to retirements at the top of the scale. He said that teachers with 25 to 30 4 years experience have no financial motivation to continue teaching. 5 Todd LoFrese said CHCCS had turnover that was a combination of teachers at the 6 earlier end of their career, along with those retiring at the top of the scale. He agreed with Del 7 Burns regarding teachers hitting a wall in financial compensation after 25 to 30 years. He said 8 the turnover rate in CHCCS was at about 14 percent, which is a 10-year high. 9 James Barrett said the numbers circulated by DPI are done on a March to March 10 comparison; therefore, it takes a full year to reflect the turnover that happens at the end of the 11 school year. 12 Commissioner Pelissier requested, in the future, that both of the School Districts provide 13 the BOCC with quick reference figures regarding any progress made in achievement gaps and 14 graduation rates. 15 Chair McKee said, should the BOCC allocate the $302 request from CHCCS, that 16 amount would have to go to both systems, which would drive the tax rate to about .03, 17 assuming that everything else within the County stayed the same. He said the .03 increase 18 would be on top of the .02 increase from last year, which is significant for those on fixed 19 incomes. 20 Chair McKee said the upcoming bond would also add to the tax rate going forward. He 21 said that Paul Laughton mentioned that the increase given last year was also $302. 22 Commissioner Jacobs asked if staff would take the last 10 years of school requests and 23 calculate what the tax rate would be had all requests been fully funded. 24 Commissioner Price said asked if CHCCS could get back to the BOCC regarding their 25 priorities if the per pupil increase were to be only $81, or even an average between the $302 26 and the $81. 27 Todd LoFrese said the big question is what is going to happen at the State level. He 28 said salaries traditionally make up the biggest component of CHCCS requested increases over 29 the years. He said what happens at the State level affects what CHCCS does at the local level. 30 Tom Forcella said the salary increases are such a big piece of the CHCCS request but 31 are not a part of the OCS request. 32 Chair McKee said the budget cuts by the State are not exclusive to the Schools, and that 33 the County too is facing these same challenges. 34 Chair Kelly said if the tax rate increase being requested this year had been made 10 35 years ago, then a tax increase would not be needed this year. He said the requests are not 36 really cumulative over time. 37 Chair Kelly said CHCCS have approached their budget in a similar fashion for years. He 38 said when items are prioritized ahead of time, it adds a great deal of stress to their staff and 39 teachers. He said the monies that are ultimately received typically warrant a new discussion 40 anyway. 41 Chair Kelly said good things would happen in OCS if they too had the $302 increase in 42 per pupil funding. 43 44 Jamezetta Bedford said this year and last year's efforts have been made to tie the 45 budget to the long range plans, and she said she is adamantly opposed charging anything for 46 Driver's Education. She said looking forward, if nothing changes, then the achievement gap is 47 not going to improve. She said it will be necessary to think outside the box, repurposing the 48 dollars to help achievement gaps and improve instructional excellence in the classroom. 49 Commissioner Price said the reasoning for her question is to look at the worse-case 50 scenario, and what it would look like to CHCCS if they did not get their full funding request. She 51 said both school systems are doing great things and all should be proud.