Agenda - 05-17-2016 - 5-a - Minutes

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9 1 Pat Heinrich said he echoed Todd LoFrese's comments. He said it is already difficult to 2 fill some of the Exceptional Children (EC) and elementary positions. He said this problem 3 would only increase if CHCCS continues to be behind Wake County. 4 Commissioner Dorosin asked if in CHCCS, unlike Wake County, there is not going to be 5 any differentials for EC teachers. 6 Todd LoFrese said signing bonuses are offered for high need teaching areas, such as 7 math, science and EC. 8 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the number of participants that the $50,000 program 9 can cover is known. 10 Todd LoFrese said ten teachers over two years. 11 Commissioner Price said with the existing schedule, a teacher with 20 years of 12 experience does better is CHCCS than Wake County. She asked if this will be the same with 13 the new system. 14 Todd LoFrese said if a teacher moves through the Advance program at a reasonable 15 pace, that teacher would be at 20-25%; which makes up the difference. He said a teacher that 16 moves through the Advance system quickly could earn a higher salary faster than under the 17 current model. 18 Chair McKee asked if recruiting quality teachers is a problem across the State. He said 19 he understands that Wake County is experiencing these same problems. 20 Tom Forcella said Wake County did not have their new salary schedule in place during 21 recruitment season last spring. 22 Chair Barrett said Wake County has 157,000 students, so it will always be recruiting, 23 and have more openings at any given time than CHCCS, and thus more opportunities. 24 Commissioner Dorosin said CHCCS is proposing is 2.66% tax increase, and OCS is 25 proposing a 2.26% tax increase. He asked if the BOEs sense that Orange County residents will 26 pay more for schools. He said this is a lot to ask of the residents. 27 Steve Halkiotis said that is a decision the Board of County Commissioners has to make, 28 and the BOE are just asking for what the children need. 29 Rani Dasi said these requests have been communicated to the community, and it 30 seems the community will lend its support. 31 Chair McKee said CHCCS has moved forward with the plan to raise teacher 32 supplements, and asked if there is a fall back plan if the BOCC does not honor all of the 33 requests. 34 Chair Barrett said if the topic of cuts is greatly discussed, employees get nervous and 35 may look for other jobs. He said if the requests are not fully funded, then hard decisions will 36 have to be made going forward. 37 Chair McKee said deciding about the supplement before the Board of County 38 Commissioners has an opportunity to discuss it makes things difficult. 39 Pat Heinrich said the CHCCS BOE did conclude that if the requests are not fully funded, 40 there will have to be a dramatic shift in how the education is delivered to the children. 41 Chair McKee said he understands this, but noted there is also a bond on the horizon, 42 which will call for tax increases as well. 43 Commissioner Jacobs thanked the CHCCS BOE for taking a different approach than 44 their predecessors, who repeatedly used the threat of cuts to get what they wanted. He said 45 this ratcheted up the conversation and caused a lot of distress for all involved. He said he 46 greatly appreciates the straight discussion. 47 Commissioner Jacobs said the CHCCS took the 16% supplement action, on the 48 understanding that there may be consequences. He said this is the reason that he bought up 49 the idea of phasing it in. 50 Commissioner Jacobs suggested there should be a fall back position.