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Agenda Item #1 <br /> Attachment C <br /> OCS Board of Education <br /> Approved 2020-2021 Local Operating Budget Request <br /> 2020-2021 EXPANSION BUDGET continued <br /> Foci I outlines our intent of doubling down on Literacy. Our data reflects that our marginalized students are <br /> falling behind in Literacy at an unacceptable level. 45% of our 3rd through 8th grade students are not proficient <br /> in reading as reflected on the 2018/2o19 end of grade tests. <br /> In order to interrupt the systems in place and improve student outcomes, our Board supported and approved <br /> the following expansion items in support of the Literacy Foci: <br /> • $105,500 to hire a Directory of Literacy. <br /> o Approx. 64%of our black students in grades 3-8 are not proficient in reading <br /> o Approx. 67%of our Hispanic students in grades 3-8 are not proficient in reading <br /> o Approx. 85%of our English language learners in grades 3-8 are not proficient in reading <br /> o Approx. 87%of our students with disabilities in grades 3-8 are not proficient in reading <br /> • $138,000 to hire two additional school counselors to offer additional support at various schools. In this <br /> year alone, OCS has experienced the following: <br /> 0 135 suicide assessments <br /> o 78 social service referrals <br /> o 19 medical emergencies <br /> 0 400+ referred and/or receiving school based mental health services <br /> • $74,100 to hire a Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator. <br /> 0 50%of our students qualify for Title I funding <br /> 0 43.25%of our K-12 students receive free&reduced meals <br /> 0 70.3%of our PreK students received free&reduced meals <br /> o 8o-go bags of supplemental food are distributed weekly in our elementary schools <br /> 0 25-3o bags of supplemental food are distributed weekly in our middle schools <br /> 0 10-15 bags of supplemental food are distributed weekly in our high schools <br /> o OCS has 150+McKinney Vento Students (homeless) <br /> 0 25-3o ESSA students (Foster Care) <br /> • $16o,000 to hire two additional academically/intellectually gifted(AIG)teachers. <br /> o Budget reductions in FY2o18 prevented the hire of these two vacant positions. Resources had to <br /> be shifted forcing two of our elementary schools to share an AIG teacher with another school. <br /> • $40,000 to offer the dual language program to PreK students at New Hope Elementary. The current <br /> dual language program offered to Kindergarten's at New Hope elementary is very successful and in high <br /> demand. Parents and the community have expressed great desire for the program to begin in PreK. <br /> In support of our second foci, Climate and culture,our Board supported and approved the following <br /> expansion items: <br /> • $150,000 to build in two inclement weather days for classified staff. At this time,when the district is <br /> closed for inclement weather 12 month classified staff are required to use vacation and in some cases <br /> leave without pay. <br /> • $82,500 to reinstate pay for 5 teacher assistant workdays.To balance the budget in FY2019 and not <br /> eliminate any teacher assistant position,the district no longer allowed teacher assistants to work on <br /> teacher workdays. As a result,Teacher Assistant pay was reduced by 14 days. The district was able to <br /> protect all teacher assistant positions and recoup approximately$250,000 to balance the budget. The <br /> OCS Board and staff realize the value and importance of these staff members in our schools. It is the <br /> goal of our Board to eventually reinstate all of the workdays for teacher assistants. <br /> 11 <br />