Minutes 04-28-2020 Virtual Joint Meeting w-Schools

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23 Chair Rich said she agreed with Commissioner Dorosin that there are huge benefits to having in-house staff, as that staff takes greater pride in their school “home” and it fosters greater community in the school buildings. Commissioner Greene referred to the per pupil costs, and said the increase would be $501 for both expansion and continuation budgets. She asked if the increase for just the continuation budget could be identified. Jonathan Scott said the increase is $301.82 for just the continuation budget, as presented this evening. Commissioner Greene said she was comparing the two districts’ budgets, and OCS is asking for $321 for continuation and expansion, and $173 for just the continuation budget. Chair Rich referred to Project Advance, and said in 2016 she questioned Dr. Forcella about this program, as it was one of the few occasions that school staff had reached out to her for help, as they were not happy to be taking part in the program. She said Dr. Forcella told her that Project Advance would never cost Orange County any money, but now CHCCS is asking for $1 million to pay for this program. She asked if the discrepancy could be explained. Dr. Pam Baldwin said that these funds were supposed to come from retirees, and the funds did not come forward to support the program so CHCCS had to finds funds elsewhere for professional training. She said initial calculations were in error, and people did not retire as expected. She said ongoing professional development is extremely important. Chair Rich said it is interesting that the plan has not worked out, and now the financial need is before the County. She said the BOCC was assured in 2016 that this program would not cost the County any money. Dr. Baldwin said the flip side to this is that CHCCS still has some veteran teachers in the district, as they did not retire as planned, and this experience is invaluable. Commissioner Dorosin referred to the expansion budget item of two inclement weather days, and asked if there is a plan in place for the funds if these days are not needed/used. Jonathan Scott said the funds would roll into the general fund balance. He said there have been more than two inclement weather days for the past several years. Commissioner Dorosin asked if this is two days in addition to the normal days. Jonathan Scott said these funds are targeted toward bus drivers, cafeteria workers, etc. who have to have an instructional day in order to work. CHCCS Chair Wolfe said there are not days set aside, but rather days that can be used as make up days. She said, thanks to remote learning, instruction may be able to continue on a snow day, and this budget item is truly to protect those that would lose salary without instructional days. She said this is a high priority for the CHCCS staff. Commissioner Dorosin asked if this is the same with parental leave. He said it is earmarked for 75 employees, and asked if this number is based on the past several years experience, and if this money is not used will the funds also roll in to the general fund. Jonathan Scott said yes, these numbers are based on historical data, and if not used, the funds will go back into the general fund. He said it is also possible that numbers will exceed 75, and then the opposite would be true. Commissioner Dorosin referred to removing the supplemental cap related to employees hired after June 2016, and asked if employees hired now would not cause this to be a recurring expense. Jonathan Scott said when CHCCS moved to the Project Advance model, CHCCS raised its supplements to 16%. He said all supplements were to be set at 16%, and additional stipends could be earned with participation in Project Advance. He said the previous administration let go of that, and grandfathered everyone that was at 20 and 25 into those bands forever, and still able to participate in project advance. He said when the supplement was raised to 16%, the BOE placed a cap on the local supplement for anyone coming into the district after July 1, 2016; so no matter how many years experience one had, one would be capped at 16%. He said