Minutes 02-25-2020 Schools - Laserfiche WebLink

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27 OCS Chair Atherton asked if there is an update on the NCDOT sidewalk study. Chair Rich said she does not have a current update, but will bring back information after the next quarterly meeting with NCDOT. 6. Business • Potential Budget Topics for Future Discussion Commissioner Dorosin said there has been a lot of news about the contract issue at CHCCS, and some of the questions he has received from residents are: • What was the source of funding for the consultant • Will the review going to review all the other contracts that may be structured like this one • Some of the information from the school district about this mentioned a whistleblower policy, and did this contract issue come forward because of a whistleblower and if so, was he/she protected. • Will the review analyze the process of how the contract was approved, and whether the School board decided they could do it in house after the contract had been made • Will the CHCCS Board consider reducing the cost threshold for a contract that requires approval by the CHCCS Board before it is executed CHCCS Chair Wolf said the CHCCS board does have this information, and can provide it to the Board of County Commissioners in writing. Chair Rich said the biggest concern she had, was people asking her to explain the role of the Board of County Commissioners with school oversight. She said she told them that the BOCC funds the schools, and the schools are the stewards of the funding. She said the BOCC does not have oversight. She said some people said they felt they could not talk to the school board about this issue, for fear of retribution. She encouraged transparency. CHCCS Chair Wolf said CHCCS board reached out to the BOCC in advance, and has also made public statements. She said the CHCCS board takes this very seriously, and is having an external reviewer support the board. She said an extra meeting has been scheduled to allow the public to speak. She said all work is focused on the continual support of the strategic plan. Commissioner Dorosin said if the review shows that illegal things were done, he hopes that the CHCSS can recoup its monies. OCS Chair Atherton said there is a potential budget topic for future discussion, which is to give an idea of what both districts have been talking about for consideration as budget season approaches; a heads up, if you will. Rhonda Rath referred to page 41, and said there is a budget update and some items OCS is considering. She said primarily these options are around enhancing the OCS benefit packages for employees, to recruit and retain highly qualified staff. She said this is not a conclusive list, and when OCS comes back with its budget, some of these may be included along with others. She said it remains a significant priority to expand the equity initiative and professional development. Jonathan Scott, CHCCS Interim CFO, said CHCCS has done an extensive analysis of its benefit package. He said CHCCS staff has been polled about what is most important to them. Superintendent Baldwin said CHCCS appreciated the equity funds from last year, and CHCCS was also awarded a $4.3 million grant for a lot of this equity work. She said the safety requests from last year will be in the CHCCS budget again this year, along with the benefits