Agenda 04-23-2019 Attachment C - Orange County Schools Board of Education FY2019-20 Operating Budget Request and CIP

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�NT}aa ®mange County Schools 200 East King Street,HiUslborough,NC 27278 ]Phone:919-732-81261 ]Fax:919-732-81201 todd.wirt@orange.k12.mc.uns www.orangecountyfirst.com Dr. Todd Wirt, Superintendent April, 2019 As planning and preparation begins for the 2019/2020 school year, Orange County Schools finds itself facing many challenges, not all of which are unique to our county. Of the 117 Local Education Agencies that comprise the public schools system in NC, seventy plus are projected to see no growth in the 2019/2020 school year. The Office of State Budget and Management recently released NC 13 year's cumulative birth cohorts which reflect the cohorts leveling and remaining relatively constant for the period 2019-2027. Factor this with the forecasted change in NC population for ages 0-17 and a continued decline in student enrollment can be expected for the majority of systems across the state. Required budget reductions in the 2018/2019 school year presented new challenges for the district. Class sizes in grades 4-8 were increased in order to reduce three local teaching positions and teacher assistants were no longer permitted to work or use accumulated leave on non-student days. Even as we faced these restraints, the district continued to improve academic achievement. We celebrate the achievement that ten of our thirteen schools met or exceed growth and we outpaced the state in College and Career ready as well as grade level proficient students. Under the leadership and commitment of our Board of Education, Orange County Schools continues to reflect commitment to the district vision and mission out lined in its Strategic Plan. Such commitment is evidenced in: • Implementation of a Dual Language Program at New Hope Elementary School. A two-way dual immersion model for English and Spanish. • Universal Breakfast Program in every elementary school providing a free hot breakfast or grab and go option for every student. • A summer feeding program which provided over 5,700 breakfast and 8,400 lunches to students. February of this year, the Board of Education unanimously approved the district Equity Policy renewing the focus on equity. Our continuation budget encompasses an Equity Director to lead and implement a continual focus on equity, inclusion and cultural awareness. In collaboration with Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools,we plan to provide a series of Professional Development sessions for staff across the district. Orange County Commissioners have and continue to be responsive to our educational needs, but we continue to face new mandates at the state and federal level. Our budget ask for the 2019/2020 school year includes $34.9 million in support of continued operations and $1.2 million in expansion requests for a total request of$36.1 million. Our budget request is comprised of the following: $34,874,932 Continuation budget incorporating: • An Orange County Schools Equity Director • Universal Breakfast in every elementary school. • Anticipated State mandated salary increases: o Five percent certified staff o Two percent all other staff 3 0 Employer retirement contribution increased to 20.36%per eligible employee