Feb 24, 2025 School Board Meeting

[A. OPENING MEETING]

[00:00:03]

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

BUDGET WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 24TH, 2025. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

MRS. ANDREWS. HERE. MRS.. CHRIS. HERE. MR. JOHNSON.

HERE. MISS TAYLOR. HERE. MR.. ELY. HERE. AT THIS TIME.

EVERYONE PLEASE RISE. MISS CHRIS, IF YOU'LL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

[B. PUBLIC SESSION]

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

LET'S PRAY. DEAR LORD, AS WE COME TOGETHER THIS EVENING TO GO OVER THE FINANCES OF THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LET US BE GOOD STEWARDS OF YOUR MONEY THAT YOU'VE ENTRUSTED WITH US TO USE WISELY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.

BE WITH US AND GUIDE OUR CONVERSATIONS AND ALL THAT WE SAY AND DO.

IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE AN AGENDA IN FRONT OF YOU.

IF THERE'S NO ADDITIONS OR SUBTRACTIONS, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE AT THIS TIME? I MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE THE AGENDA. SECOND.

MOTION BY MISS ANDREW. SECOND BY MISS CHRIS. ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

MISS TAYLOR. YES, MR.. JOHNSON? YES. MRS.. CHRIS.

YES. MRS.. ANDREWS. YES. MR.. ELI. YES. FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT IS SUPERINTENDENT SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED

[C. SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION FY25-26]

BUT IF DOCTOR LYLE IS NOT FINISHED WITH HIS PRESENTATION AT THAT TIME, WE'RE GOING TO LET HIM FINISH HIS PRESENTATION.

AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THAT TIME.

OKAY. DOCTOR LAL.

GOOD EVENING. CHAIRMAN ELY. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY.

TONIGHT, MR. SORENSEN AND I WILL BE PRESENTING A PROPOSED BUDGET BASED ON THE NEEDS SHARED BY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAMS, CENTRAL OFFICE LEADERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE 20 2227 PGC'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IN HERE, BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ALIGN WITH THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND STRATEGIES OUTLINED IN THE SCHOOL DIVISION'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

SO LET'S GO TO THE FIRST GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THERE.

SO THE FIRST SLIDE INCLUDES OUR MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS WHICH EXPLAIN OUR PURPOSE AND WHERE WE ASPIRE TO BE.

THE NEXT FEW SLIDES YOU'LL SEE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES DELINEATE OUR FOUR GOALS AND SUPPORTING REPORTING OBJECTIVES.

SO THERE YOU SEE GOAL ONE WHICH IS ACADEMIC GROWTH AND ENGAGEMENT AND THE SEVEN OBJECTIVES RELATED TO THAT GOAL.

GOAL TWO IS DEDICATED AND CONNECTED STAFF. AND WE HAVE THREE SUPPORTING OBJECTIVES THERE.

GOAL THREE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS ONE.

OBJECTIVE. AND FINALLY GOAL FOUR WHICH IS A CARING CULTURE AND CLIMATE.

AND WE HAVE FOUR SUPPORTING OBJECTIVES. SO FOR OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES, A 5% SALARY INCREASE IS PARAMOUNT FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF STAFF.

AS THE STATE AND NATION CONTINUE TO COMBAT TEACHER AND OTHER EMPLOYEE SHORTAGES, PKG CPS MUST OFFER COMPETITIVE BENEFITS IN ORDER TO TAP INTO THE LIMITED APPLICANT POOL FOR TEACHING AND OTHER HARD TO FILL POSITIONS, AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.

OUR SCHOOL DIVISION OFFERS A COMPETITIVE SALARY FOR TEACHERS ENTERING THE PROFESSION, BUT OUR RANKING AMONG SURROUNDING SCHOOL DIVISIONS DECREASES AS TEACHERS EARN YEARS OF SERVICE. ANOTHER CRUCIAL CONSIDERATION FOR INCREASING SALARIES IS THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH FILLING VACANCIES WITH CONTRACTED SERVICES AND LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES. WHILE CHILDREN CANNOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED IN CLASSROOMS USING PERSONNEL NOT EMPLOYED BY PCG, CPS IS AN EXPENSIVE REMEDY TO A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE SOLVED BY HIRING OUR OWN EMPLOYEES.

FURTHERMORE, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES WHO ARE COVERING VACANCIES THAT WOULD GO UNFILLED OTHERWISE.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE SUBSTITUTES ARE NOT PROPERLY LICENSED AND ENDORSED, MEANING THEY DO NOT POSSESS THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED TO REMAIN IN THOSE POSITIONS.

PROVIDING COMPETITIVE WAGES FOR ALL STAFF MEMBERS IS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT, BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS DESERVE A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THE MOST DEDICATED AND TALENTED STAFF WE CAN PLACE IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS. AND THEN FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE, THERE IS NO COST INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEE PREMIUMS.

[00:05:06]

BASED ON ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STANDARDS OF QUALITY, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HIRE THREE ADDITIONAL ENGLISH LEARNER TEACHERS FOR THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. THE STATE HAS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THIS MANDATE.

IN TERMS OF SCHOOL SECURITY, THERE REALLY IS NO PRICE TAG THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY.

STAFF AND STUDENTS DESERVE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CONDUCIVE FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND OUR FAMILIES NEED ASSURANCES THAT THEY ARE SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. OUR SCHOOL DIVISION HAS BENEFITED FROM STATE GRANTS THAT CURRENTLY FUND THE SRO POSITIONS AT BEASLEY MIDDLE ROAD AND SOUTH ELEMENTARY.

SINCE THESE GRANTS EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, PJC WILL NEED FUNDING FOR THESE FOR THESE OR SIMILAR POSITIONS TO REMAIN IN PLACE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS HAVE BEEN REPORTING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ENTERING SCHOOL, NOT KINDERGARTEN READY. FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SCHOOL YEAR, ALL KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ARE ASSESSED IN FOUR AREAS AS PART OF THE VIRGINIA KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAM OR VKP. STUDENTS GENERALLY POSSESS THE FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY AND NUMERACY NUMERACY SKILLS NEEDED TO LEARN KINDERGARTEN STANDARDS, BUT THE DATA INDICATES SOME OF THEM ARE STRUGGLING IN THE AREAS OF SOCIAL AND SELF-REGULATION SKILLS.

WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM PARAPROFESSIONALS WHO ASSIST STUDENTS WITH LEARNING THESE IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS, DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS CAN IMPEDE THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF THEIR PEERS AS WELL AS THEIR OWN.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU RECEIVED STATE AND FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY DATA ABOUT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

ALL GCPS ARE CURRENTLY FULLY ACCREDITED BY THE STATE.

HOWEVER, GJ MOORE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS IDENTIFIED FOR TARGETED SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE TWO STUDENT GROUPS HAVE NOT MET FEDERAL BENCHMARKS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

A DEDICATED INSTRUCTIONAL COACH IS NEEDED AT GJ MOORE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND B CLEMENTS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND PRINCE GEORGE HIGH SCHOOL TO ASSIST PROVISIONALLY LICENSED TEACHERS AND LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES WITH LESSON PLANNING AND INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY THAT ARE ALIGNED TO VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING.

HAVING INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AT THESE SCHOOLS WILL ALLOW THE PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES THEY FACE DAILY IN TERMS OF OUR STRATEGIC NECESSITIES. THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE LISTED HERE IS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR.

THAT'S CURRENTLY AT MIDDLE ROAD THAT THE GRANT FUNDING IS EXPIRING.

SO. LOCAL FUNDING IS NEEDED TO PRESERVE THAT POSITION FOR OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR TEACHER VACANCIES.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHILE WE ARE CERTAINLY THANKFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FILL OUR YOUTH CONTRACTED SERVICES TO FILL SOME OF THOSE VACANCIES, THE COST FOR PROVIDING OR FOR WORKING WITH THOSE CONTRACTED SERVICES REALLY EXCEEDS THE COST THAT IT WOULD, THAT WE WOULD EXPERIENCE IF WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE OUR OWN EMPLOYEES.

SO THAT, AGAIN, GOES BACK TO THE NEED TO PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE SALARY TO ATTRACT QUALITY FROM A LIMITED APPLICANT POOL.

THAT WOULD HELP US RELY LESS ON CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR FILLING SOME OF THOSE VACANCIES, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN SOME OF THE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN SCHOOLS, AND SO WE ARE REQUESTING A BEHAVIOR SUPPORT SPECIALIST.

THIS POSITION WOULD BE USED TO WORK WITH STUDENTS AND OTHER GRADE LEVELS IN SCHOOLS BASED ON DISCIPLINE DATA.

SO WHILE THE PARAPROFESSIONALS IDEALLY WOULD WORK TO SUPPORT THE KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS, THIS POSITION WOULD BE DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH STUDENTS IN OTHER GRADE LEVELS AND SCHOOLS BASED ON THAT DISCIPLINE DATA WHERE THE WHERE THE THE GREATEST NEED EXISTS FOR LEARNING SPECIALIST AND PARAPROFESSIONALS.

ADDING THESE POSITIONS WOULD DECREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT LEARNING SPECIALIST AND PARAPROFESSIONALS ARE CURRENTLY SUPPORTING. IN SOME CASES, LEARNING SPECIALISTS ARE APPROACHING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO SERVE ON THEIR CASELOADS.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE THE NEED FOR AN EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WHO WOULD BE CONSIDERED ITINERANT.

AND THEN JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE SAME ALLOCATIONS AT OUR SCHOOLS.

WE ARE REQUESTING A SCHOOL BASED SECRETARY FOR MIDDLE ROAD ELEMENTARY BECAUSE COMPARED TO SCHOOLS OF SIMILAR OR GREATER SIZE,

[00:10:07]

SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, FROM LOOKING AT OUR ENROLLMENT TREND DATA THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN PK HAS REMAINED CONSTANT SINCE THE 2020 2021 SCHOOL YEAR.

THESE NUMBERS REFLECT THE MARCH 31ST AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP SUBMITTED ANNUALLY TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO MR. SORENSEN, WHO'S GOING TO LEAD US THROUGH THE DETAILS OF OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.

MR. SORENSEN. THANK YOU, DOCTOR LAU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.

AS DOCTOR I MENTIONED, I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH SEVERAL SLIDES. AND IF I COULD, I'M GOING TO START AT A HIGH LEVEL WITH ALL OF OUR FUNDS.

AND THEN IN SUBSEQUENT SLIDES, WE'LL GO IN MORE DETAIL FOR EACH ONE OF OUR FUNDS.

SO THE SLIDE BEFORE YOU COMPARES THE CURRENT YEAR ADOPTED 25 BUDGET TO THE 26 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOL FUNDS.

SO THE REGULAR FUND, THAT'S OUR LARGEST FUND.

IT'S WHAT MOST EVERY EMPLOYEE AND EVERY EXPENSE COMES OUT EVERY DAY.

WE DO HAVE GRANTS, A GRANTS FUND THAT DOES SUPPORT SOME GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS.

GRANTS TYPICALLY LAST FOR A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME AND FOR A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE, AND WE NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE SEPARATELY SO WE CAN REPORT BACK TO THE FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE SPENT THEIR FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RULES.

TEXTBOOK FUND IS A FUND SET ASIDE. SO WHEN WE HAVE TEXTBOOK ADOPTIONS, WE WILL HAVE MONEY SITTING THERE.

WE ARE ALLOWED TO CARRY A FUND BALANCE OVER ANNUALLY IN THE TEXTBOOK FUND TO MEET OUR NEEDS FOR SCHOOL BOOK ADOPTION AND THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND THAT IS FOR CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES. THAT IS A SELF-SUSTAINING FUND. AND AGAIN, I'LL WALK THROUGH ALL THESE IN MORE DETAIL.

BUT IN TOTAL, THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET IS JUST OVER $94 MILLION.

WE'RE PROPOSING A BUDGET OF $99.5 MILLION, OR $5.4 MILLION INCREASE, OR 5.8%.

SO THIS JUST JUST A VISUAL OF WHAT I SAID. THE REGULAR FUND IS BY FAR OUR LARGEST FUND.

AGAIN, IT'S WHAT WE USE MORE EACH DAY FOR THE GENERAL OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL DIVISION.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REGULAR FUND. THIS IS THE REVENUE SLIDE.

YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE FOUR CATEGORIES. OTHER OTHER IS REALLY OTHER LOCAL.

SO OTHER WOULD INCLUDE LIKE OUR BUILDING RENTAL DRIVER'S ED FEES REFUNDS SALE OF EQUIPMENT OR E-RATE MONEY.

SO THAT'S THAT'S OTHER LOCAL STATE FUND. IS THAT MONEY THEY RECEIVE FROM THE COMMONWEALTH.

THIS AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE. THE BUDGET WE'RE GOING THROUGH TONIGHT IS BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OF A CROSSROADS WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION OUT.

BUT WE STARTED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IN DECEMBER AND WE RAN THROUGH THAT WITH THE WHOLE TIME.

WE'RE ALL AWARE THERE ARE AMENDMENTS OUT? NOW, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED THEIR BUDGET ON SATURDAY.

AND SO WE KNOW THERE ARE AMENDMENTS OUT. THEY ARE SIMPLY THEY'RE NOT THE FINAL BUDGET.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TO ACT ON THAT. IT GOES BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THEM TO FINALIZE IT.

SO BUT WE ARE AWARE AND THIS IS ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM.

AGAIN, I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM. BUT WE ARE AWARE THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID PASS A BUDGET THAT HAS ABOUT 1,000,008 FOR US IN ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING.

SO OBVIOUSLY, AT YOUR DISCRETION AND WHAT YOU HOW YOU GUYS WANT TO PROCEED, IT'S CONCEIVABLE THAT WE COULD USE THAT MILLION EIGHT TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COUNTY TRANSFER. BUT AGAIN, THAT OBVIOUSLY IS UP FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

BUT I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WE ARE AWARE THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTRA MONEY COMING INTO OUR BUDGET THAT COULD HELP OFFSET SOME OF THIS.

FEDERAL. FEDERAL IS REALLY WHAT THE FOR OUR STUDENTS ASSOCIATED WITH GREG ADAMS PRETTY MUCH FLAT $25,000 INCREASE OUT OF $5 MILLION AND THE COUNTY TRANSFER. WE ARE ASKING BASED ON THESE NUMBERS, BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND NOT ANY POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS.

WE ARE ASKING FOR $21.2 MILLION, WHICH IS A $3.4 MILLION INCREASE.

SO IF I COULD JUST REAL QUICKLY, THE REGULAR FUND BUDGET IN 25 IS $84.9 MILLION, THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS $90 MILLION.

IT'S A $5.2 MILLION INCREASE FOR 6.2%. WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU OUR FUNDING PARTNERS THIS THIS SLIDE STAYS FAIRLY CONSISTENT FROM YEAR TO YEAR, BUT THE STATE IS OUR LARGEST FUNDING PARTNER, FOLLOWED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND THEN THOSE OTHER FUNDS THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

SO THAT'S THE REVENUE SIDE. LET'S GO THROUGH THE EXPENDITURE SIDE AGAIN.

THE BUDGET HAS TO EXCUSE ME. THE BUDGET HAS TO BALANCE.

SO IT'S A GOOD THING THAT 25 IS THE SAME AS THE REVENUE AS EXPENSES.

AT $84.9 MILLION, THE PROPOSED IS $90 MILLION.

IN THAT $5.2 MILLION INCREASE I'VE REFERRED TO.

THE SALARY AND BENEFIT CATEGORY DOES INCLUDE ALL THE POSITIONS THE DOCTOR LOL MENTIONED EARLIER.

IT DOES INCLUDE A 5% INCREASE HE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER AND WHAT I FAILED TO MENTION ON THE REVENUE SLIDE.

IT DOES INCLUDE THE ESL POSITIONS HE REFERRED TO.

[00:15:02]

IT'S THE STATE'S SHARE, BUT IT'S THERE TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF THOSE ESL POSITIONS.

YOU CAN SEE THE OPERATING BUDGET IS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $1 MILLION AND THE CAPITAL LINE IS ABOUT FLAT.

I DO WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHEN WE STARTED, BEFORE WE KNEW ANY FUNDING SOURCES, WE DID LOOK AT ALL OF OUR EXISTING EXPENSES AND BUDGET IN THE 25 BUDGET AND THE 24 BUDGET.

AND WE DID AN EXERCISE TO KIND OF REALIGN THE BUDGET TO WHERE OUR EXPENSES ARE TAKING PLACE.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE AN OPERATING, FOR EXAMPLE, A $1.1 MILLION INCREASE, BECAUSE WE DID MOVE SOME FUNDS AROUND TO BETTER ALIGN OUR 26 BUTTER BUDGET WITH FUNDING TRENDS PREVIOUSLY.

SO THAT'S WHY SOME OF THOSE LINES INCREASED, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE BUDGET IS FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

MOST OF THE BUDGET INCREASE IS SALARY AND BENEFITS.

JUST JUST A VISUAL. YOU KNOW, WE AND YOU GUYS KNOW THIS ALL THAT YOU DO IN THE SCHOOLS EVERY DAY.

BUT WE ALWAYS SAY THAT MOST OF OUR BUDGET IS SALARY AND BENEFITS.

THIS PIE CHART JUST SHOWS THAT WE ARE A VERY LABOR INTENSIVE BUSINESS.

WE PROVIDE VERY SPECIFIC SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS.

IT REQUIRES A LOT OF SKILL AND EXPERTISE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT GOING INTO OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

IT'S 86% OF OUR REGULAR BUDGET. JUST LOOKING AT EXPENDITURES IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

AND THIS IS HOW THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL ULTIMATELY APPROPRIATE A BUDGET TO US TO DO APPROPRIATE BY CATEGORY.

SO THESE IN THE LEFT HAND COLUMN, THAT'S THE STATE MANDATED CATEGORIES.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE AGAIN ACROSS THE 24 ACTUAL 25 ADOPTED THAT $84.9 MILLION I'VE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF TIMES NOW, THE 26 PROPOSED BUDGET AT $90 MILLION. AND AGAIN, THAT $5.2 MILLION INCREASE IS JUST A WAY OF LOOKING AT THE SAME EXPENSES.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S HOW THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL APPROPRIATE TO US.

AND I DID WANT TO MENTION ON THIS SLIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME YOU SEE SOMETHING WHERE A CATEGORY WENT DOWN THAT KIND OF CATCHES YOUR ATTENTION. SO THE TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY DID GO DOWN.

AND IT GOES BACK TO THE EXERCISE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHERE WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET AND PREVIOUS YEAR EXPENSES AND REALIGNED SOME BUDGET TO EXPENSES. SO WE DID NOT CUT ANY SERVICES IN TECHNOLOGY.

WE SIMPLY REALIGNED SOME POSITIONS TO WHERE WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEING CHARGED.

SO THE TECHNOLOGY IS, IS IS WHOLE, AS IT WAS THIS YEAR.

JUST AGAIN, A VISUAL TO SHOW THE INFORMATION JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WAY.

BUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT ON THIS CHART, WHICH YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE, IS THAT MOST OF OUR FUNDING GOES TOWARDS INSTRUCTION. THAT'S DIRECT INSTRUCTION IN CLASSROOMS TO OUR STUDENTS. IT'S 71.9%. THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET IS ABOUT 71.3%.

SO AGAIN, WHEN WE ADD TO THE BUDGET, YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE THE INCREASES. GO TO THE INSTRUCTION SLICE OF THE PIE. AND IN FACT, THEY DID DO THAT. DOCTOR LAU TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT OUR 5% PAY RAISE IS.

SO THIS IS A CHART THAT COMPARES OUR SALARIES TO ALL THE OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN REGION ONE.

SO THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS THE STARTING SALARY.

STEP 0 OR 1. DIFFERENT DIVISIONS DO IT DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE'RE NUMBER FOUR IN THE REGION. BUT THEN AS AS TEACHERS GAIN EXPERIENCE AND MOVE UP IN OUR PAY SCALE OR RANKING MOVES DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

SO WE'RE EIGHTH AT STEP 15 AND EIGHTH AT STEP 30.

SO AGAIN THAT'S PART OF THE EMPHASIS OR THAT IS THE EMPHASIS BEHIND THE 5% PAY INCREASE, NOT ONLY TO BOLSTER OUR STARTING SALARY TO ATTRACT MORE APPLICANTS, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE MORE FUNDING FOR OUR MORE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS.

GRANT REVENUE AGAIN, GRANT REVENUES TYPICALLY FOR A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD ON A VERY SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

SO THIS IS THE REVENUE WE ARE PROPOSING A DECREASE IN THIS FUND.

THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET IS FOR JUST OVER $4 MILLION.

WE'RE PROPOSING FOR 26 OR $3.7 MILLION BUDGET, A DECREASE OF $373,000.

IT'S IN THE FEDERAL CATEGORY. THAT'S REALLY ALL THE COVID RELATED COVID ERA GRANTS THAT HAVE EXPIRED NOW, SO THAT THEY WERE ALL FEDERAL GRANTS. SO THE FEDERAL CATEGORY WENT UP OR WENT DOWN, RATHER.

AND THAT REALLY EXPLAINS THE STATE INCREASES FOR SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT THAT WHEN WE GOT THE AWARD THIS YEAR WAS AFTER THE BUDGET WAS DEVELOPED.

SO WE ADDED IT TO 26. WE'RE CONFIDENT WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT MONEY IN THE FUTURE, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER SMALL STATE GRANTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THAT WE'RE CONFIDENT WE'LL GET IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, AGAIN, JUST OVER $4 MILLION THIS YEAR, $3.7 MILLION NEXT YEAR. THE DECREASE YOU CAN SEE IN THE CAPITAL LINE, IT'S RELATED TO THOSE COVID ERA GRANTS GOING AWAY.

THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS LINE DOES INCLUDE THAT 5% INCREASE, AS WELL AS THE ADJUSTMENT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.

TEXTBOOK FUND. SMALL FUND FOR US, BUT CERTAINLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE NEED TO ADOPT TEXTBOOKS FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THERE ARE TWO FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT PRIMARILY STATE.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S JUST A SLIGHT INCREASE $516 PROPOSED FOR 2026.

AND OF COURSE, SOME OF OUR COUNTY TRANSFER GOES TO THAT AS WELL.

[00:20:03]

SO OVERALL THE TEXTBOOK FUND IS AN INCREASE OF $516.

SAME ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE. THERE'S THE $516.

WE DO HAVE IT IN THE OPERATING CATEGORY SO THAT WE DO WHEN WE ARE READY TO ADOPT TEXTBOOKS.

IT'S IN THE PROPER PLACE IN THE OPERATING CATEGORY.

SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND. THIS IS THE REVENUE SUMMARY.

SO IN THE 26 BUDGET, WE SIMPLY REALIGN SOME REVENUE SOURCES BASED ON PRIOR YEAR TRENDS.

SO WE ARE PROPOSING A BUDGET IN 2026 OF $4.7 MILLION.

THAT'S A $573,000 INCREASE OVER 25. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE OTHER REVENUE DOES INCLUDE A BIT OF FUND BALANCE. AND ALSO WE ARE NOT PROPOSING A MEAL PRICE INCREASE ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

SALARIES AND BENEFITS. WE AGAIN WE'RE REALIGNING PROPOSED EXPENDITURES WITH OUR SPENDING TRENDS.

SO THERE'S THE $573,000 INCREASE FROM THE REVENUE SIDE.

SALARIES AND BENEFITS DO INCLUDE THE 5% PAY INCREASE IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE.

AND THERE'S $50,000 FOR CAPITAL IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS WELL.

SO I DO WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE WE MOVE FROM THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS THEY ARE, AS ALL FUNDS ARE BUDGETED AT FULL EMPLOYMENT.

SO IN THIS IN THE SCHOOL NUTRITION, WHILE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FULL EMPLOYMENT, THAT PROBABLY WILL NOT HAPPEN.

SO THERE'LL BE SOME SAVINGS THERE. I MENTIONED ON THE LAST SLIDE WE'RE USING SOME SOME FUND BALANCE.

SO THAT FUND BALANCE IS THERE. BUT WE THINK WE'LL HAVE REDUCED EXPENDITURES AND SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR LESS RELIANCE ON THAT FUND BALANCE.

ALSO CAPITAL WE PUT $50,000 IN. WE DON'T PLAN ON GOING AND SPENDING THAT MONEY RIGHT AWAY.

IT'S MORE OF A RESERVE. WE WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE SOME EQUIPMENT, BUT FUNDING DOESN'T ALLOW IT.

WE WON'T, BUT WE HAVE IT THERE AS A RESERVE IN CASE WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE EQUIPMENT.

SO AGAIN, SOME OF THE FUND BALANCE IN THERE, WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO WORK AT CONTROLLING SOME OF OUR EXPENSES TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON FUND BALANCE. AND THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. SORENSEN. SO LOOKING AT OUR NEXT STEPS SO OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE MARCH THE 17TH, WHICH IS WHEN WE WILL BE SEEKING ACTUAL APPROVAL OF THE FY 26 BUDGET.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT DATE, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO LOOK AT OUR CALENDARS AND TO DETERMINE AT LEAST SCHEDULE ONE WORK SESSION WITH THE GROUP, AND POSSIBLY EVEN SCHEDULE A WORK SESSION WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE TIME TO REALLY DELVE INTO THE BUDGET AND HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND PRIORITIES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SO. MR. ELY, I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS BACK OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU. DOCTOR LOUGH. BOARD MEMBERS. IT'S IT'S NOW OUR BUDGET FOR US TO LOOK THROUGH AND GO AND SEE I GUESS IF YOU CAN GET WITH MISS KIRK ON SOME DATES THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TRY TO HAVE A BUDGET WORK SESSION TO GO OVER THIS BUDGET, GIVE YOURSELF SOME TIME TO LOOK THROUGH IT.

IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. GO FROM THERE. IF YOU.

I WOULD ASSUME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, JUST REACH OUT TO DOCTOR LOUGH OR MR. OR MR. SORENSEN OR BOTH OF THEM AND SEE WHAT YOU'RE SEE, AND THEY'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME.

OR WE CAN WAIT TILL THE BUDGET WORK SESSION. ARE YOU GOING TO SET UP TIMES NOW OR NO? WELL, WE CAN WE CAN LOOK AT THAT. WHAT DO YOU WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO LOOK AT? WE CAN DO THAT. OR WE CAN GET MISS KIRK TO HELP FACILITATE.

EITHER WAY, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THE GROUP.

I MEAN, DO YOU WANT IT HERE OR. WELL, I THINK ANY BUDGET WORK SESSION WE HAVE, IF WE CAN LIVE STREAM IT FOR PEOPLE THAT CAN'T BE HERE OR SO THERE'S NO QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR SOMEBODY SAID THIS SOME I SAID THAT THAT'S JUST CLEANER.

THAT WAY IF WE HAVE IT IN HERE AND THEN IT'S LIVE STREAMED, IT'S VIDEOED, AND THEN THERE'S NOTHING ANYBODY CAN SAY WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING. SO, MISS KIRK, MAYBE WE'LL. YEAH. MISS KIRK, MAYBE WHAT WE'LL WANT TO DO IS LOOK AT THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS ROOM.

IF WE COULD DO THAT TOMORROW, AND THEN LET THE BOARD MEMBERS KNOW WHEN WHEN THIS ROOM IS AVAILABLE.

AND THEN WE CAN TRY TO SELECT AT LEAST ONE DATE FROM THOSE AVAILABLE DATES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. AND I WILL SAY THAT THE SECOND AND THE FOURTH TUESDAYS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE THIS ROOM. SO I DO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE ROOM.

AND ON THE FOURTH MONDAY IT'S THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

SO I DO KNOW THAT. AND I KNOW THEY HAVE THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR REGULAR MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT AND A BUDGET WORK SESSION ON WEDNESDAY.

SO AND OF COURSE, WE'LL NEED TO GIVE ENOUGH NOTICE TO SWAGIT SO THAT THEY CAN BE PREPARED TO LIVE STREAM AS WELL.

[00:25:05]

IN MARCH. WE HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THEM. WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM.

WE HAVE. WE HAVE UNTIL I THINK LEGALLY, WE HAVE UNTIL APRIL THE 1ST TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

I KNOW WE WANT TO TRY TO GET IT ACROSS THE STREET AS SOON AS WE CAN FOR THEM TO FOR MR. STOKES AND MISS DRURY TO DO THEIR BUDGET.

BUT I'M SURE PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, WANT TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AT THAT TIME TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE AND DON'T HAVE. SO ARE WE GOOD WITH THAT BOARD MEMBERS? MISS CLARKSON'S OF SOME DATES OUT? I'M GOOD. OKAY.

AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT IT FROM THERE. SOUNDS GOOD.

FAIR ENOUGH. OKAY. WELL, WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MINUTES BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THE COMMENT. YEP. MISS CLARK, IF YOU'LL READ THE PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS FOR ME, I APPRECIATE THAT.

[1. Public Hearing on the Superintendent's Proposed FY25-26 Budget]

CITIZENS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK THEM TO FILL OUT THE FORM.

BUT I WILL READ THE GUIDELINES FOR THE PARTICIPATION.

THE SPEAKERS SHOULD STATE THEIR FULL LEGAL NAME AND ADDRESS PRIOR TO ADDRESSING THE SCHOOL BOARD.

SPEAKERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ADDRESS OR QUESTION STAFF MEMBERS DIRECTLY.

QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CHAIRPERSON, WHO MAY, AT HIS DISCRETION, SOLICIT A RESPONSE.

SPEAKERS APPEARING BEFORE THE BOARD WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, PROMOTE PRIVATE BUSINESS VENTURES, ENGAGE IN PERSONAL ATTACKS ON ANYONE, OR USE PROFANITY OR VULGAR LANGUAGE.

CITIZENS MAY EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS IN WRITING IN LIEU OF ANY ORAL PRESENTATION, AND THE HEARING IMPAIRED PERSONS MAY CONTACT THE BOARD CLERK IN ADVANCE TO MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR AN INTERPRETER, AND NOBODY HAS REACHED OUT TO ME.

WELL, IT IS 628, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, I'D ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND ALSO THEIR ALLOTTED THREE MINUTES.

YES. YOU GET THREE MINUTES FROM THE TIME.

GOOD EVENING SIR. GOOD EVENING. BOARD CHAIR. VICE CHAIR.

DOCTOR. LAW DOCTOR. MARTIN. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE POINTS FOR YOU GUYS TO OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE SOME MORE WORK SESSIONS OUT HERE.

SO ONE OF MY CONCERNS. OH, I'M SORRY. JEAN SHANKS, 1973, BLACKWATER FARM LANE.

846914221. YEAH. SO ONE COMMENT DID DOCTOR LAWS MADE.

HE SAID THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AGENCIES THAT ARE CONTRACTED SERVICES.

AND THEY'RE MAKING MORE THAN HIRING OUR OWN STAFF.

I WOULD IT WOULD BE MY UNDERSTANDING FROM A PREVIOUS CAREER WHEN WE HIRED STAFF.

STAFF AGENCY STAFF, THEY DID COST MORE, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE BUDGET, SO I WOULD I WOULD THINK THAT IF THEY'RE IN THE BUDGET NOW, WORKING IN OUR DIVISION, THAT MONEY IS ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE POINT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER.

I MEAN, IF THEY'RE ALREADY BUDGETED. ALSO, I RECALL LAST YEAR THAT MR. JOHNSON, I BELIEVE, PROPOSED AN INCREASE AND IT WAS APPROVED OF 3% BECAUSE THERE APPEARED TO BE QUITE A BIT OF LEFTOVER.

NOW, MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD THAT, BUT HE MADE THAT MOTION BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME EXTRA FUNDS IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED, AND YOU WERE ABLE TO GIVE A 3%. SO I'M NOT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING.

IT'S SUCH A HUGE INCREASE BY THIS DIVISION TO BE A BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS.

IF IT WAS ALREADY LEFT OVER LAST YEAR AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE IT THAT MUCH MORE, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT SAME AMOUNT WOULD BE LEFT OVER THIS YEAR. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME INCREASES, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, INSURANCES AND OTHER THINGS AND ALL, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A HUGE INCREASE WHEN YOU HAD SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT LEFT OVER

[00:30:04]

I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT IT'S FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION SHOULD BE OUR TEACHERS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF, SUCH AS BUS DRIVERS AND PEOPLE IN THE LUNCHROOM AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO I WOULD THINK THAT MAYBE IF WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS APPROVED THROUGH OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MAYBE WE FOCUS THIS ON A SALARY INCREASE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR OTHER PERSONNEL WITHIN THE DIVISION.

AND SO THIS NUMBER COULD BE MORE REACHABLE WHEN YOU TAKE THIS IN FRONT OF OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

BECAUSE AND I GET IT, I'M NOT SAYING ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF DO NOT DESERVE A RAISE, BUT WHEN SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY TOP HEAVY BASED ON THE DATA, WHEN YOU LOOK UP THE AVERAGE, MAYBE, MAYBE, MAYBE WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE TEACHERS ONLY BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT THEIR INFORMATION IS THE ONLY INFORMATION I'M SEEING ON THE SCREEN. IT'S JUST THE TEACHERS. WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT YEAR THREE, YEAR, EIGHT YEARS DOWN THE LINE, YOU'RE USING THEIR SALARY. NOT NOT SOME OF THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HIGHER UP SALARIES.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE TEACHERS MORE THAN ANYTHING.

AND THEN YOUR OTHER SUPPORT PEOPLE LIKE BUS DRIVERS AND PEOPLE IN THE LUNCHROOM AND SO FORTH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SHANKS. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. MADAM VICE CHAIRMAN.

MY NAME IS WILLIAM STEEL, A9921 COUNTY LINE ROAD IN DISPUTANTA.

GENTLEMEN, I'VE AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

FIRST OF ALL I'M GLAD YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE WORK SESSIONS, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOT TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BUDGET.

THIS BUDGET IS KIND OF OUTRAGEOUS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE PASSED LAST YEAR, PAST 18 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT THAT AND I SENT YOU ALL THE STUDIES THAT WE ALL DID HERE ABOUT WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE PAYING IN THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND REAL ESTATE TAXES.

WHAT GOES TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. YOU GUYS HAVE OVERTAXED THIS COUNTY TREMENDOUSLY.

WE ARE NUMBER SIX IN THE 28 COUNTIES THAT WE DID THIS RESEARCH ON.

WHEN I COMPARE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVING TO THIS SCHOOL BOARD AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING IN RETURN, AND COMPARING WITH WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE GIVING AND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING IN RETURN, YOU ALL NEED TO RELOOK AT THIS.

DOCTOR, I KNOW YOU'RE NEW TO THE SYSTEM HERE, BUT EVERY YEAR, EVERY YEAR, THE BEST THING THAT THIS THAT YOU ALL PRICES IS WE NEED MORE MONEY. GIVE US MORE MONEY. THROW MORE MONEY AT US.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER WHICH I HAVEN'T HEARD ONE AGAIN FROM YOU TONIGHT.

WHO'S PAYING THIS? THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING THIS ARE A LOT OF FIXED INCOMES WHO ARE ONLY GOING TO GET A 2.8% PAY RAISE IN SOCIAL SECURITY THIS YEAR, AND YOU WANT A 5% PAY RAISE WHEN YOU GIVE THEM A 3% LAST YEAR.

THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHO'S PAYING THIS MONEY AND WHAT WE'RE GETTING IN RETURN.

NOW, WE'VE LOOKED AT THESE OTHER COUNTIES, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THESE OTHER COUNTIES THAT PAY A HECK OF A LOT LESS IN TAXES AND GIVE MORE TO THEIR STUDENTS AND GET A BETTER RATINGS BASED ON THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU ALL PRODUCE FROM THE STATE AND THE END OF THE RESULTS AT THE END OF THE STUDY HERE.

WE'RE NOT GETTING OUR MONEY'S WORTH, SO STOP COMING WITH US.

MORE MONEY ASKING FOR MORE MONEY. LET'S USE WHAT WE HAVE.

AND AS I STATED IN THAT PAPER THAT I SENT TO YOU ALL, LET'S STOP THROWING MONEY AT IT AND START LOOKING AT LEADERSHIP.

WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, YES, MONEY IS IMPORTANT.

EVERYBODY WANTS ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD, I GOT IT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT MOST OF THE TEACHERS WANT. MOST OF THE TEACHERS WANT SECURITY.

THEY WANT A BETTER WORK ENVIRONMENT. THAT'S LEADERSHIP.

YOU FAILED IN THAT LAST YEAR. YOU'RE FAILING IN IT.

NOW LET'S STOP PUTTING MONEY, THROWING MONEY AT AN ISSUE, AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH LEADERSHIP AND STOP RIPPING THE TAXPAYERS OFF FOR GIVING YOU MORE MONEY WHEN YOU DON'T NEED IT, AS THE EVIDENCE HAS SHOWN US IN THESE RESULTS.

PLEASE AGAIN, LOOK AT THAT STUDY THAT I SENT TO YOU AND FIND OUT WHY THESE OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING BETTER THAN US WHEN THEY'RE PAYING A LOT LESS.

ALL RIGHT. I'M GLAD WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE WORKSHOP.

I WOULD ASK, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT YOU GET RID OF THAT STUPID THREE MINUTE RULE.

PEOPLE HAVE A LOT TO SAY. WE NEED MORE THAN THREE MINUTES TO STAND UP HERE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T GIVE US THE INFORMATION LIKE YOU DID LAST YEAR.

SO I'M PUTTING IN MY FOIA REQUEST TO GET A COPY OF THESE SLIDES.

I'D LIKE THAT RESPONSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. STEELE. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE AT THIS TIME THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET?

[00:35:23]

I AM YOU'LL NEVER HEAR ME SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOU INCREASING TEACHERS.

I THINK THEY DESERVE IT. I THINK ONE OF THE MOST UNDERPAID PROFESSIONS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

SO IF THEY'RE QUALIFIED TEACHER, THEY'RE A GOOD TEACHER.

ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAD UNDER THE PREVIOUS SITUATION WAS THAT WE HAD A LOT OF DISGRUNTLED TEACHERS.

I KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY CONTACTED ME. THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN THE VOICE THAT I'VE BEEN.

THEY LEFT HERE A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD TEACHERS LEFT HERE BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING THROUGH THAT.

I BRING THIS UP FOR THIS REASON. I CAN'T BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN CLOSED SESSION, WHICH I THINK SHOULD BE ILLEGAL WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS. I CAN'T PINPOINT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE REMOVAL OR RESIGNATION OF THE PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENT, BUT I KNOW THAT IT WAS A 1 TO 4 VOTE, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A BUYOUT, AND I KNOW A LOT OF MONEY COULD BE IN THIS BUDGET IF WE HADN'T HAD THAT BUYOUT.

THAT BOTHERS ME. YOU WERE HIRED BY THE VOTERS TO HANDLE THAT DIFFERENTLY.

AND IT SICKENS ME THAT SOMEBODY WALKED AWAY. DOESN'T WORK AND GETS A BUYOUT.

AND WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT DESERVE THAT MONEY.

I'M GOING TO SECOND WHAT MR. SCHENK SAID. I DO THINK IF OUR STAFF IS THAT HIGH.

I HAVEN'T DONE THE NUMBERS MYSELF, BUT I ALSO KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF MEALS AND CONCESSIONS HISTORICALLY THAT WERE GIVEN TO THAT BUILDING NEXT DOOR.

THINGS LIKE THAT AREN'T PART OF THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET. THEY SHOULDN'T BE.

THAT IS MISAPPROPRIATION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO FIX IN THIS COUNTY, BUT THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT I WANTED TO STATE FOR THE RECORD.

AND I AM DISGRUNTLED TO THIS DAY THAT SOMEBODY GOT PAID FOR DOING A PISS POOR JOB IN THIS COUNTY AND GOT PAID AN EXTRA YEAR OR TWO, WHATEVER WAS LEFT. I'M SURE TO DO A HORRIBLE JOB IN THIS COUNTY.

CREATE THE DISGRUNTLEMENT. CREATE THE SITUATION WITH LACK OF TEACHER RETENTION, AND THE FOUR OF Y'ALL THAT VOTED FOR IT SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.

THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME AND SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT IS PRESENTED? ALL RIGHT. SINCE I SEE NO ONE MOVING THIS WAY, I AM GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.

AND WE WILL MOVE ON. TO A DISCUSSION ITEM WITH

[1. FY26 State Budget Update]

BUT AS THE SLIDE IS LAID OUT, THERE WERE A COUPLE AMENDMENTS FROM BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

SO FOR FY 25 THAT THAT TOP CHART ON THE SLIDE, THE FY 25 BUDGET, THERE WAS BOTH CHAMBERS HAD A MINOR INCREASE TO CORRECT THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST FORMULA IN THEIR CALC TOOL. BUT ALSO THE SENATE PROPOSED A $1,000 BONUS FOR ALL SOQ FUNDED POSITIONS, $631,000 IN 26. AGAIN, BOTH CHAMBERS HAD AMENDMENTS.

THEY WERE EXACTLY THE SAME, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BONUS, WHICH IS UNUSUAL, BUT NONETHELESS THEY WERE EXACTLY THE SAME.

THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES HAD THEIR BONUS IN 26, SO THE SENATE 25, HOUSE OF DELEGATES 26, BUT THEY BOTH HAD A $1,000 BONUS.

SO THE IDEA WAS WAS THE SAME, JUST DIFFERENT FISCAL YEARS, ALSO IN 2006, THERE WAS A CORRECTION TO THE STATE'S FORMULA FOR SCHOOL BREAKFAST, GIVING US A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND. AND THEN THERE WERE TWO PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENTS.

ONE WAS TO SUPPORT THE SUPPORT TO FUND THE SUPPORT POSITIONS AND BASIC AID.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT WAS REDUCED. AND SO NOW IT'S BEEN RESTORED TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE.

THAT GIVES US $1.4 MILLION. BOTH CHAMBERS RECOMMENDED THAT AND THEN SPECIAL ED.

BOTH CHAMBERS RECOMMENDED $365,000 FOR SPECIAL ED FUNDING.

SO IT'S THE STUDENTS WE HAVE THAT RECEIVE LEVEL ONE AND LEVEL TWO SERVICES.

[00:40:02]

SO IF WE LOOK AT THE SUPPORT POSITIONS AND THE SPECIAL ED THAT COMES TO ABOUT 1,000,008 IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, I MENTIONED 1,000,008 IN STATE FUNDING. THIS IS THIS IS THE SOURCE OF IT.

THIS IS NOT FINAL. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID APPROVE A BUDGET OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT NOW IT GOES TO THE GOVERNOR AND BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

IT IS NOT FINAL, BUT BOTH RECOMMENDED THE SAME AMOUNT.

WHAT GETS A LITTLE TRICKY IS IF THE GOVERNOR REJECTS OTHER PORTIONS OF THE BUDGET, IT MAY IMPACT THE FUNDING TO FUND THESE THINGS.

SO WHILE BOTH DOLLARS ARE AMOUNT, BOTH CHAMBERS WERE ON THE SAME LINE OF THOUGHT.

AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT UNTIL THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BUDGET AND IT GOES BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR APPROVAL. BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO KEEP YOU GUYS INFORMED OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. SORENSEN? ALL RIGHT. THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.

MR. SORENSEN, THANK YOU. AND I GUESS YOU CAN STAY THERE FOR ACTION ITEM.

A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FOR SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION TO CHILD NUTRITIONAL SERVICES FUND 0540 ON THE FY 25 BUDGET.

[1. Request for Approval for Supplemental Appropriation to Child Nutritional Services Fund (0540) FY25 Budget]

STUDENTS AND STAFF PAY FOR THEIR MEALS. WHEN WE MENTIONED TO YOU, WHEN I DO MY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS EACH MONTH THAT WE'RE STARTING TO DO PROJECTIONS BECAUSE WE'RE OVER HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR.

SO WHEN WE DID THE PROJECTIONS FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND, WE LOOKED.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHORT ON THE EXPENSE SIDE THIS YEAR.

THIS CURRENT YEAR, WE INCREASED ALL THE SUPPORT PAY SCALES, TRYING TO GET READY FOR THE $15 MINIMUM WAGE MINIMUM IN JANUARY 2026.

SO DOING THAT WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY ADJUST THE BUDGET TO TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES.

SO WE WENT BACK THROUGH AND WE ESTIMATED WHAT THE EXPENSES WILL BE IN THE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND.

WE CAME UP WITH $526,000. MOST OF THAT SALARY AND BENEFITS IS ALL YOU ALL KNOW, WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, WE GO OUT TO EAT. THE COST OF FOOD IS GOING UP.

IT'S GOING UP FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION AS WELL. SO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE IN THERE FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION OF ABOUT $155,000 TO COVER THE COST OF FOOD.

OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE TO BUY THE FOOD TO SELL IT.

SO THERE'S ASSOCIATED REVENUE WITH THAT AS WELL.

SO ALL THOSE INCREASES ON THE EXPENSE SIDE ARE ABOUT $526,000.

AS I MENTIONED, THEY ARE SELF-SUSTAINING FUND.

THEY NEED TO PAY FOR THAT INCREASE THEMSELVES.

SO WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT REVENUE. AND JUST WHEN I DID THE 26 BUDGET A MINUTE AGO, I MENTIONED THAT WE REALIGNED SOME OF THE REVENUES WITH PRIOR TRENDS.

WE DID THE SAME THING IN 25 AS WELL. SO WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE TRENDS IN AND WHAT WE, OUR STUDENTS, PAY. WE REDUCED THAT NUMBER SOME.

WE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR MEALS AND WHAT WE GET REIMBURSED FOR THOSE MEALS FROM THE FEDS.

WE INCREASE THAT REVENUE. AND THEN WE ALSO WENT INTO SCHOOL FUND BALANCE.

SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL FUND BALANCE BECAUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, TO PAY FOR ONGOING EXPENSES THAT WOULD WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT CAREFULLY.

WE DO HAVE AN EXCESS FUND BALANCE. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS USDA GUIDELINES ALLOW US TO KEEP THREE MONTHS WORTH OF CASH IN OUR FUND BALANCE, WE EXCEED THAT BY $233,000. SO WE'RE USING THAT EXCESS FUND BALANCE TO SUPPORT THE 25 BUDGET AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO REVENUE EQUALS EXPENSES. WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET FOR YOU THAT SHOULD COVER OUR EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR.

I WILL SAY THAT WE DIDN'T INCLUDE ANYTHING FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THE BONUS MAY AFFECT SCHOOL NUTRITION.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE GET A LITTLE EXTRA REVENUE. WE DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THAT IN THIS ESTIMATE.

BUT IF YOU ALL APPROVE THIS, THEN WE'LL GO TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR APPROPRIATION.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S MOTION TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO CHILD NUTRITIONAL SERVICES FUND 0540. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE REQUEST AS GIVEN TO US. SECOND. MOTION BY MR. JOHNSON.

SECOND BY MISS CHRIS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MISS TAYLOR? YES.

MISS ANDREWS? YES. MR. JOHNSON? YES. MRS.. CHRIS.

YES. MR. ELY. YES. NEXT IS THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO GRANT FUNDS.

[2. Request for Approval for Supplemental Appropriation to Grant Fund (0510) FY25 Budget]

WE COME TO YOU GUYS USUALLY EVERY WINTER ABOUT THIS TIME, BECAUSE GRANTS ARE OFTEN UPDATED IN THE FALL OR UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THAT MATTER, AFTER YOU ALL ADOPT THE BUDGET IN THE SPRING.

SO IN THIS CASE, WE'RE COMING TO YOU WITH TITLE ONE.

[00:45:02]

TITLE ONE. YOU ALL APPROVED A BUDGET OF $748,000.

WE ALWAYS GET UPDATED ON THAT IN THE FALL. SO THE NEW ESTIMATE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS $1,026,000.

WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO INCREASE THE BUDGET BY 278 78 FOR 70 TO GET US TO THAT MILLION.

26 FOR 97 SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT. AGAIN, I MENTIONED THAT EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION.

THIS YEAR WE GOT NOTIFICATION. OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION AFTER YOU ALL ADOPTED THE BUDGET, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ADD $241,757 TO THE GRANT FUND TO COVER THE SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT AND THE LITERACY GRANT.

WE RECEIVED THAT RECENTLY A WEEK OR TWO AGO. AND SO, SINCE WE'RE COMING BEFORE YOU WITH THESE OTHER ITEMS, WE WANT TO ALSO BRING THE LITERACY GRANT TO YOU AS WELL.

THAT'S $60,000. SO IN TOTAL, WE'RE ASKING TO INCREASE THE GRANT BUDGET BY $580,227.

THERE'S NO LOCAL MONEY IN THAT. IT'S ALL FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY.

SO THAT YOU SEE THE EXPENSE SIDE AND THE REVENUE SIDE FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE.

THE AMENDMENTS PAID FOR THEMSELVES FROM REVENUE SOURCES.

AND SO WE WOULD ASK YOU THAT IF YOU WOULD APPROVE THIS AGAIN, WE'LL GO TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR APPROPRIATION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO GRANT FUND.

0510. I MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE IT. SECOND.

MOTION BY MISS ANDREWS. SECOND BY MISS TAYLOR.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

MR. JOHNSON. YES. MRS. ANDREWS. YES. MRS. CRISP.

YES. MISS TAYLOR. YES. MR. ELY. YES. IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT NEEDS TO COME BEFORE THIS BOARD THIS EVENING? HEARING NONE, I WILL ASK. MR.. YES. MR..

I'M SORRY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK. SHE DIDN'T COME UP AND SPEAK TODAY, BUT SHE'S IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US AND MRS. RANKIN FOR HER NOTES AND ALL THAT WAS GIVEN TO US THERE.

DULY NOTED. AND THANK YOU. I THANK THE SUPPORT OF THE THE TEACHERS AND STAFF IS VITAL.

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE THE GREAT DATA THERE.

IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN PEOPLE SHOW DATA THAT SUPPORTS THEIR POSITION AND FACTUAL DATA NOT JUST MADE UP STUFF.

SO WE LIKE THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT IF I COULD.

YEAH. I DO APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR EMAIL AND ALL THE, THE TIME Y'ALL TOOK TO ACCUMULATE ALL THIS DATA TO SHOW THAT THE NEED IS YOU DO NEED PAIRS AND ASSISTANCE, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO MARCH OF 11TH OF 2024 ON ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

WE HAD MISS BROWN FLETCHER. SHE'S OF THE DELTA ZETA DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY.

SHE CAME BEFORE OUR SCHOOL BOARD BACK ON MARCH THE 11TH OF 2024, AND SHE OFFERED HER ASSISTANCE FOR HER SORORITY TO HELP US IN OUR SCHOOLS.

SHE WAS SHE OFFERED THERE TO REIGNITE THE SORORITY AS A RESOURCE FOR PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

SHE WANTED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY SCHOOLS AND TO PROGRAMS AND TO THE DIVISION AND AS OF TODAY.

I DON'T THINK NOTHING'S BEEN DONE WITH THIS. ON MANY OCCASIONS I HAVE ASKED REPEATEDLY AS SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO HER TO ASK HER IF SHE COULD COME HELP OUR TEACHERS, AND AS OF NOW, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

I HAVE HER ADDRESS NOW, SO I KNOW WHERE SHE LIVES.

SO I WILL GO MYSELF AND ASK HER TO COME SEE THE SCHOOL BOARD.

BECAUSE EVIDENTLY THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF THE MEMBERS IN THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE TO TAKE THEIR TIME TO GO AND REACH OUT TO HER. SO I WILL DO IT MYSELF, AND I WILL BRING HER, IF I HAVE TO GO GET HER AND DRIVE HER TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE, I WILL, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS REACHING OUT TO US TO OFFER US FREE ASSISTANCE.

SOME OF THESE ARE RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND WE HAVE YET TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND ASK THEM FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE.

HOPEFULLY SHE HAS NOT WITHDRAWN THE OFFER. HOPEFULLY IT STILL STANDS, BUT I'M.

I MEAN, I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE MARCH AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED, SO I WILL I WILL REACH OUT TO HER MYSELF AND SEE IF SHE CAN REACH OUT TO DOCTOR LYLE AND OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE TO COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND HELP IN OUR KINDERGARTENS.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS THIS EVENING? ALL RIGHT. SO I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN, PLEASE.

MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND. MOTION BY MISS CHRIS.

SECOND BY MISS TAYLOR. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MR. JOHNSON, I'D REALLY LIKE TO STAY, BUT.

[00:50:02]