Agenda - 06-21-2016 - 5-a - Minutes

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6 1 Commissioner Burroughs said a simple solution is for the legislature to give taxing 2 power to the school districts. She said the BOCC may want to publicly advocate such a 3 change. She acknowledged that the budget season can be heightened, but she believes the 4 schools can be funded and should be for the sake of the students and the teachers. She said 5 she will be advocating for both school districts to receive their full budget requests. 6 Commissioner Pelissier said she would like to change the narrative of the Manager's 7 recommended budget and to leave out the mention of no tax increase. She said a tax increase 8 is the purview of the Board. She said the schools are a big driving force for tax increases, and 9 she would be willing to raise taxes. She said the BOCC is charged with governing the whole 10 County, and she is not sure of the best way to amend the budget process. 11 Donna Coffey said OCS would be more than willing to work with the Board on this or 12 any future budget process. 13 Commissioner Price said budget process can be worked on, and she has never had a 14 problem talking to anyone on either school board. She has always found both school boards to 15 be receptive and hopes dialogue can increase. 16 Chair McKee noted that holding two jobs is not unique to the teaching profession, but he 17 would be interested to see how many teachers are working second jobs, and then compare that 18 to the general population. 19 Tom Forcella, CHCCS Superintendent, and James Barrett, CHCCS School Board Chair, 20 reviewed information about the district's budget requests, and questions and responses from 21 the Board of County Commissioners. 22 Tom Forcella said from 2006-2014 the main reasons for teacher turnover rate was re- 23 location and retirement. He said more recently teachers have been leaving in order to teach in 24 another North Carolina public school. 25 Tom Forcella referred to the questions about substitute teachers and said these 26 teachers do not have to be certified. 27 Tom Forcella referred to Commissioner Dorosin's comments about discipline and said 28 all principles, vice-principles, and guidance counselors have been trained in restorative 29 discipline, and the district is moving away from traditional disciplines such as out of school 30 suspension. 31 Tom Forcella reviewed the highlights and goals of Project Advance, noting it will be a 32 systemic change to promote new cultures. 33 Chair Barrett said CHCCS also feel that this budget process does not work for anyone. 34 He referred to teachers who work second jobs and said his concern is when a teacher is 35 working a second job, that teacher will not be at their best in the classroom, and this is of 36 concern. 37 Commissioner Rich shared her concerns about Project Advance, noting that there are 38 senior teachers who are very concerned about this program. 39 Tom Forcella said experienced teachers may be able to test out of the lower levels of 40 the program. 41 Commissioner Rich asked if other counties in the State are implementing similar 42 programs. 43 Tom Forcella said no, CHCCS is the only district implementing this program. He said 44 outstanding instruction in the classroom is the best way to close the achievement gap. He said 45 teachers must be able to demonstrate that they are successful in the classroom, rather than 46 simply rising through the pay scale due to years of experience. 47 Commissioner Rich said the feedback she is getting from veteran teachers is that they 48 must jump through hoops, and she is not sure this is the best way to respect and retain 49 teachers. 50 Commissioner Burroughs asked if the number of teachers in the district is known.