HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 05, 2008 Work Session212
A joint worksession of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors and the Frederick County
School Board. was held on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 5:00 P.M., in the Frederick County Schools
Administrative Offices, 1415 Amherst Street, Winchester, Virginia.
PRESENT
Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice Chairman Gene E. Fisher; Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.; Gary
W. llove; Bill M. Ewing; and Philip A. Lemieux.
ABSENT
Gary A. Lofton.
OTHERS PRESENT
John R. Riley, Jr., County Administrator; Jay E. Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator; Kris
C. "Tierney, Assistant County Administrator; Cheryl B. Shiffler, Finance Director; Ellen M. Murphy,
Commissioner of the Revenue; C. William Orndofl; Jr., Treasurer; and Richie Wilkins, III, Finance
Committee member; School Board members Dr. John Lamanna, Chairman; Stuart Wolk; Jody Wall;
Rick Howett; David Zerull; Melvin S. "Jim" Harmon, Jr.; and Benjamin Waterman; Patricia Taylor,
Superintendent of Schools; Lisa Frye, Finance Director, Frederick County Public Schools; Al
Orndorff, Superintendent for Administration; Steve Edwards, Clerk to the School Board; and Peter
Vernimb, Superintendent for Instruction.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Shickle called the worksession to order.
Mr. Lamanna began by saying the proposed budget was the School Board's budget. He
stated there were several ways to work through the needs versus resources; however, this
presentation would focus on the needs. He concluded by saying the School Board was committed
to working with the Board of Supervisors through this process. Mr. Lamanna then gave a brief
overview of the school system and the budget. I Ie advised that projected enrollment for 2008-2009
was 13,218. Of this amount, it is estimated that 20% will require additional services beyond normal
classroom instruction. "I'he proposed operating budget reflects a $12.4 million increase along with
a $2.5 million increase in capital. Mr. Lamanna then turned the presentation over to Superintendent
Patricia Taylor.
Superintendent Taylor reviewed the priorities in the proposed budget:
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- Improve salaries and benefits.
o $3.2 million for teacher salaries
o $1.5 million for support/administrative salaries
o $1.2 million maintain health benefits and improve other benefits.
- Staffing.
o $3 million for 52 full-time equivalent positions.
o $200,000 for Standards of Accreditation mandate = 4 full-time equivalent positions.
o $200,000 for 12th elementary school leadership = 3 full-time equivalent positions.
o $200,000 improve teacher support in content areas = 2 full-time equivalent positions.
o $100,000 bus drivers = 4 full-time equivalent positions.
o $200,000 bus aides = 9 full-time equivalent positions.
- Transportation.
0 32 buses proposed for FY 2009 = $1.3 million from Operating and $1.2 million from
Capital.
- Capital Improvements Plan.
o $30,000 for scoping, testing, and planning for future needs of the division.
- Other funds.
o $1.3 million increase.
Superintendent Taylor advised this proposed budget was a 9.5% increase over the current year's
budget. The total additional county contribution requested for operating was $8.1 million. The
School Capital Project fund would total $2,505,000 and the School Debt Service fund would total
$14,672,237. This would equate to an increase of $2.5 million and $700,000 respectively. She
concluded by saying if the funding of this budget was not possible the following would occur:
- Increased class sizes.
- Difficulty recruiting quality staff.
- Difficulty retaining quality staff.
- Harder to reach standards of learning requirements.
- Further lag in bus and technology replacement schedules.
Supervisor DeHaven asked if all staff pay incentives were included in the proposed 4.5%
increase.
Executive Director of Finance Lisa Frye responded the step increase and pay enhancements
were included; however, the master's degree supplement was not.
Supervisor Shickle asked about the cost of competing funds, which seemed to carry with it
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additional expense.
Superintendent Taylor responded there were no additional funds proposed in the Governor's
budget for this year.
Administrator Riley stated some of the proposed increase in local monies was due to
re-benchmarking of the composite index. He then advised that the Board needed to set a
session to review the budget, revenue projections, and departmental priorities. He advised
county departments had originally submitted $29 million in new requests; however, when
re-submitted their priority projects, the new requests were reduced to $5 million.
The Board scheduled a budget worksession with the Finance Committee for Tuesday,
February 12, 2008 at 12:00 p.m.
Superintendent Taylor added that the composite index change had resulted in a decrease
$1.5 million.
ADJOURN
UPON A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR EWING, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR
DEHAVEN, THF,RE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THIS
BOARD, THIS MEETING IS HEREBY ADJOURNEll. (5:55 P.M.)
Richard C. Shickle o .Riley, Jr.
Chairman, Board of Supervisors lerk, Board of Supervisors
Minutes Prepared By: ~_) ~ ~, ~""~~
Ja~ibb
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
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