Minutes 06-04-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Burroughs said 31 one positions were cut last year. She asked for the consequence to the students, if the per pupil amount stays at $81. Tom Forcella said the largest areas where $81 per pupil would be felt would be available programs, and potentially class size. He said if the State mandates salary increases the District must comply. Commissioner Dorosin asked what would happen if the $800,000 deficit left by the current budget were to be funded. Tom Forcella said that would just take care of the very top mandates required by the State. Todd LoFriese said one example is the school resources officers and this is part of the District's continuation budget. He said this is one area where additional assistance would be needed. Commissioner Dorosin clarified if the extra $800,000 was provided it would still be necessary to eliminate teachers. Todd LoFriese said yes. Commissioner Dorosin asked for clarification regarding the potential State mandated increases. Todd LoFriese said it is a 6% increase for new teachers and 2% for tenured teachers. Commissioner Dorosin asked if it was relevant that teachers in CHCCS already made more money than teachers in other counties. Todd LoFriese said this does not matter. It is an increase across the State regardless of current salary. c.) Orange County Schools (OCS), Pg. 143 & 225 Pam Jones, Acting Interim Superintendant, said the last time OCS met with the BOCC, Dr. Del Burns requested that the BOCC set the OCS Board of Education compensation. She said this still needs to be done as the Board of Education cannot set the rates themselves. Pam Jones said in the budget message, previously presented, Dr. Del Burns indicated that with the $81 increase, it would still be necessary to reduce their expenditures in order to meet the proposed funding of$81. She said OCS has also reduced their workforce since 2008 which affects programming. She said OCS are also looking to implement the strategic planning outcomes and that is not part of their proposed budget. Chair Halkiotis thanked Pam Jones for filling in for the month of June and he thanked the Board of Commissioners for the opportunity to be there tonight. He presented a handout that paints a picture of OCS. He said the District has been slowing bleeding positions since 2007. He said the positions total over $1 million. He acknowledged the financial generosity of the BOCC and added that the State Legislature has not been so kind. Chair Halkiotis said the budget presented a month ago did not include projected increases once the legislature adopts their budget. He said OCS are not awash with money. He said over the last couple of years they have cut down to the "bare bones." He said many positions need to be added back in. Chair Halkiotis said OCS cannot afford to keep losing students to charter schools. He said there are 478 charter school students that have left the OCS. He said there must be an assessment of why students are leaving and a redesign of the system to address the reasons. Chair Halkiotis said the OCS Board Members have asked if the Board of County Commissioners would increase the salaries of Board Members to be commensurate with those of the CHCCS. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the new Superintendent had a start date. Chair Halkiotis said July 1.