January
13, 2009
The Montgomery County School Board met on the above date in the administrative building at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of a budget work session.
Board Members Present
B. Wendell Jones, Chair Penny J. Franklin (6:54 p.m.)
Jamie M. Bond W. Wat
David G. Dunkenberger, II Joseph T. Ivers, Jr.
Staff Members Present
Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent
Judith K. Barylske Katie Miano
Christina T. Gilley Rebecca
Harvey C. Goodwin Diane R. Naff
Lois T. Graham Walter L.
Anita P. Johnston Nelson Simpkins
Call
to Order
Mr.
Jones called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag at 6:00
p.m.
Adoption
of Agenda
On motion by Mr. Ivers, seconded by Mrs. Bond, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the agenda as presented.
Work Session
Mrs. Bond moved, seconded by Dr. Hopkins, and the Board voted unanimously to enter a work session at 6:01 p.m.
Item 01/09-08 Presentations
by Employee Groups: The School Board heard budget requests from
representatives of the following employee groups:
Item 01/09-08
Mr. Knott also
asked Board members to continue to maintain equity within the association by
paying administrators commensurate with their experience. He stressed the importance of maintaining
12-month administrators in the budget and making cuts to non-staffing items.
Facilities – David Hodge, custodial manager, told Board members that in
these tight economic times, it’s time for everyone to pitch in and work as a
team. Mr. Hodge said the facilities
department is willing to do whatever is necessary to retain positions in the
school division.
Transportation – John Barnes urged the Board to maintain
employee positions in the budget and provide equal consideration in the budget
for all employee groups.
Administrative Assistants – Lori Walls expressed her support for
maintaining positions in the budget. She
said employees are willing to do everything they can to save jobs.
Technology – Mickey Williams
told the Board that the technology department manages to provide a high level
of service without outsourcing, which in turn saves the school division
money. Mr. Williams illustrated changes
in the technology department over the last 10 years. He asked the Board to make salary reductions,
dispose of surplus property, etc. to save employee jobs.
Item 01/09-08 (Continued)
Item 01/09-09 Budget Discussion: Mark
Pasier, Director of Human Resources, presented the Board with information on
staffing.
Dr. Anderson told Board members
that in order to provide proposed reductions to the budget, the administration
focused on three areas – keeping student’s first, targeting attrition, and
transferring individuals to other positions rather than reducing staff.
Walt Shannon,
Assistant Superintendent, presented the Board with a budget planning worksheet
that would eliminate $4,082,272 in funding.
Mr. Shannon reminded Board members that the proposal is based on the
governor’s budget, but the General Assembly could also make additional changes
at a later date. He said no one in the
administration is implying that any one position is more valuable than
another. Therefore, the administration
has tried to scale back on initiatives and positions added in the last couple
of years.
Ms. Franklin
arrived at 6:54 p.m.
Mr. Shannon noted
that the proposed reductions do not account for increases to health insurance
premiums, which could also occur once the rates are received.
Lois Graham,
Director of Elementary Education, said it is commendable to see everyone
working together to preserve employee jobs.
Dr. Graham provided the Board with information on the impact to
elementary class sizes related to reducing teaching positions through
attrition.
Dr. Anderson said
Nelson Simpkins, Director of Secondary Education, is working on the secondary
numbers and is looking at ways to absorb teaching positions through attrition
as well.
Dr. Anderson told
Board members that it is her goal to bring back a proposed budget at the next
School Board meeting; therefore, she asked Board members for recommendations as
related to the reductions presented.
Item 01/09-09
Ms. Franklin voiced
concern about eliminating the $15,000 in the budget for social justice training
and reductions to assistant principal positions at
Mr. Jones said he
is concerned about eliminating a bus driver because of bus safety issues, a
reduction to governor’s school slots, and reducing guidance positions.
Mr. Ivers stated
that he is strongly opposed to eliminating positions. He said the administration needs to think
outside the box to maintain positions.
Mr. Dunkenberger,
Dr. Hopkins, and Mrs. Bond said they are not comfortable making a lot of
changes in the proposal at this point.
Dr. Anderson noted
that all hiring is frozen at this point.
She mentioned that the administration is looking at other ways to
maintain employee positions such as early retirement incentives, compensation
decreases, and job sharing initiatives.
Mr. Jones said he
would like to see greater reductions to supplies, equipment, travel, and field
trips, etc. if need be. He added that he
is concerned about reducing positions in the technology department.
Mr. Ivers said
principals should look at increasing the number of volunteers in schools to
combat discipline issues. He stated that
the presence of adults in schools usually causes a more positive atmosphere. Mr. Ivers noted that Parent Teacher
Association (PTA) groups are wonderful resources.
Mrs. Bond said she
empathizes with employees when they talk about losing their jobs because the
economy has impacted her life as well.
Item 01/09-09
(Continued)
Dr. Anderson urged
Board members to send any additional comments to her by the end of the week so
that she can consider them in the proposed budget. She said the Board had requested that nurses
and administrative assistants be spared in budget reductions and the
administration has done that as well.
Return to Regular Session
Ms. Franklin moved, seconded by Mrs. Bond,
and the Board voted unanimously to return to regular session at 7:50 p.m.
Agenda Preparation
January 20, 2009 Senior
Recognition – December/January
Recognition
of BHS Girl’s Cross Country Team – Group AA State Champions
Recognition
of BHS Boy’s Cross Country Team – Group AA State Runner-ups
Old BMS Resolution
2009-2010
School Operating Budget
January 27, 2009 Budget
Work Session, 7:00 p.m. at the School Board Office
February 3, 2009 Public
Hearing on the 2009-2010 School Operating Budget, 7:00 p.m., SBO
Approval of Initial Budget Request
2009-2010 School Calendars
February 17, 2009 Recognition
of National Board Certified Teachers
Adjournment
The
meeting was adjourned at 7:52 p.m. on motion by Ms. Franklin, seconded by Mr.
Ivers, and passed unanimously.
School Board Chair Clerk of the School Board
Item 01/09-09 (Continued)