Recap: School Board Meeting 3/12/15

Attendance: 6 SB members, 7 Central Office Admin, 6 Building Admin, 4 teachers/para, several students and family members

Student Recognitions 

• RRHS & GWHS Wrestling team members won several state championships and runner ups

Public Comment 

• Renee Arnold spoke against the possibility of closing Speedwell, had signed petitions with 1090 signatures to redraw bus lines and stays in the Phase II renovation cycle.
• Beth McNamee spoke against the possibility of closing Speedwell. 

Informational Agenda

1. Principals' Updates
• Mrs. Ingo - gave a presentation on their theme of Give One Degree More at Spiller using a video that featured many students, teachers, and support staff
• Mr. Haga - showed a video of being Happy at SMMS, spoke positively about STEAM program and Pi Day
• Mr. Hensley - spoke about many of the positives going on at GWHS
• Mr. Sykes - spoke about teachers helping students earn over 500 credentials last year as well as many other accomplishments of the staff and students.
2. SOL Testing Update - Ms. Beth Cochran
• Writing Test - coming up in March
• Non-Writing Window - 4 weeks in May
3. School Board Public Comment Procedure - Dr. Brannon
• Following items were approved to include on the top of the public comment sign-in sheet
• Swearing at public meetings is a misdemeanor
• Specific concerns with students and staff should be brought to administrative staff prior to speaking
• Time limits could be implemented by SB Chair if needed
4. FY16 Budget Update - Dr. Brannon 
• The budget is for teachers and students, not the school board.
• Dates: May 12 public hearing on SB budget, May 26 BOS approves SB budget
• Enrollment is projected to go down about 100 students from 2010 
• Revenue Overview
• federal monies have gone down ($174K), 
• state monies have gone up ($254K), 
• sales tax up ($94K), 
• Bland County doesn't send their students to WCTC anymore (down $133K) 
• BOTTOM LINE: need $1.154 million additional money, need $1,657,178 (including Phase II, accounting program)
• Benefits - VRS Employer share went down (0.44%), but not significantly; employee share remained the same 5%.
• Salary Increase for Employees
• Projected costs: 1.5% increase for all employees costs $450K, 3% costs $900K (This is what is in the budget.)
• Supplements will remain the same
• Proposals for 1.5% and 1.5+% (would keep round figures) were also presented
• Adjustments of other Budget Categories
• reduction to fuel costs
• school bus lease program
• savings retirees?, 
• SACS visit costs
• additional guidance counselor is in budget, additional IT/ITRT is possible
• Point of Note: 47 positions have been cut over the last 5 years
• Health Insurance Increases
• Projected 9.6% increase will cost school system $288K 
• Point of Note: 5.5-6% average increase over the past five years (much lower than other counties)
• Projected 5% for employer and 4.6% increase for employees (picture of costs)
• Discussion of different plans offered - currently 500/Expanded, change to 1000/500 which would be cheaper, but benefits wouldn't be as good 
• Plans could be changed with no cost differential to the proposed budget
• Point of Note: Live Health can be used for simple diagnosis (use app to visit doctor via internet, get diagnosis, and prescription without going to the doctor)
• Update of Accounting Software - Sunguard 
• adopted by schools and county 
• $150K needed to cover costs
• Capital Improvement Phase II ($393K needed, see action agenda for more detail)
5. Central Office Staff Discussions - None

Action Agenda

1. Revised 2014-15 Calendar APPROVED
• State Code says counties have to make up every other day after 5 days, 
• Last day would be May 29th, 
• Teachers would make-up 4 days
2. Graduation Dates APPROVED
• WCTC 5/21 7pm
• RRHS 5/22 6pm
• GWHS 5/22 8pm
• FCHS 5/23 10am
3. 2015-2016 Calendar APPROVED
• August 11-Dec 18, Jan 6-May13
• August 4 is starting day with opening session
• Thursday meet the teacher night
• Starting on a Tuesday because of the need to get 90 days in before Winter Break
• Early dismissals would be a 12pm to provide more time for grading/recording
• No school on Election Day (teacher PD day)
• Kept workday to begin 2nd semester; will be on Jan 5th
• Kept Spring Break Th-Tu
4. Meal Prices for 2015-16 APPROVED
• going up $0.10 adult lunch up $0.25 ($3.25)
• Adult T'giving meal $4.50 to comply with federal regulations
• Have investigated outsourcing cafeteria/custodians/buses but it's not cost effective with our student numbers
5. Capital Improvements for Phase II APPROVED
• Spiller & Scott are the schools in Phase II
• Add FCMS if money is available
• One NO vote from Mr. Frye
6. Sheffey Activity Room APPROVED
• Grant will cover $179K to build the room for community use
• Low bid is $193K through Fairview Construction (local and has history with WCPS)
7. Adopt FY 2016 Budget Proposal APPROVED
• Negotiations remain with Board of Supervisors
• Mr. Frye voted no citing the A&E Fees for Phase II construction