Minutes 05-12-2022 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

30 a virtual learning for high school but no virtual option for K-8 students. He said they found that although they could not stand up a virtual academy, they could provide an alternative learning arrangement. He said that teachers were paid an additional amount of money to teach the students that did not want to return, online. He said that will cost about $900,000. HE said from there they determined there was a significant problem for bus driver recruitment and retention. He said they adopted a half-million strategy for bus driver recruitment. He said that they also provide food for them once a month. He said that moving forward, in November, the Board adopted a bonus compensation structure that included $1,000 this year and $500 next year if they stay. He said they allocated just under $1 million of local funds for that. He said they allocated $600,000 for tutoring. He said that there is $1.7 million in unallocated ESSER 3 funding, and they have until fall of 24 to spend it. He said the other pockets of money are very targeted for specific needs. Commissioner Richards asked about Jonathan Scott's statement that the actual increase to Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will only be $200,000. Jonathan Scott said the Board of County Commissioners funding is based on DPI's estimates for the next year. He said that last year, they had a held harmless provision, and they were projected at 12,227 students. Rhonda Rath said they were projected at 7,299. Jonathan Scott said that the county puts those two numbers together and arrives at a percentage allocation between the two districts. He said that Orange County's stayed flat and their's decreased by 785 students and that changed the proportion by about 2%. He said that was enough so that the 3% increase in County Manager's budget, which is $4 million to education, he said that their share was $1.1 million. He said that part of that increase included the amount of money the BOCC appropriated in grants to the school districts of$1.5 million. He said that the $1.1 million and deduct the $800 thousand for social emotional learning and mental health, which leaves them of about $200,000 in absolute dollars. Commissioner McKee said the projected numbers have historically been high. He said the county never asked for the money back. He said once they settled on a per-student allocation, which was the end of it. He said that created a higher per student allocation than what is shown in the budget. He asked what rationale they would use to now go in the opposite direction because there is a lower projected number than last year, why would they stay at the high projection. Jonathan Scott said it is not his intention to alter the county's funding formula. Commissioner McKee said there is a perception that the county is not funding at a high amount or at the level they were funding. He it is a reality that there is a decrease in the projected number of students. He said he would like to know where the children went from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. He said did they go to home school, charter, or did they move away. Jonathan Scott said he is also very curious about where they went. He said that kindergarten numbers are down and that accounts for part of it. He said charter numbers are not materially high. Commissioner McKee said he realizes that it creates a change in the percentage, but the reality is that they fund on projected numbers. Dr. Nyah Hamlett said specifically to the mental health and achievement grant, their expansion budget was full of social and emotional learning support. She said they would have likely used the mentally health funding because they know that mental health supports are necessary. She said they may have looked at a different formula. Chair Price asked if they are able to track how many students changed grade levels or if it was possible some students just graduated. She asked if you could tell if they left or graduated out.