February 10 2009 Joint Work Session with School Board227
A joint Worksession of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors and the Frederick
County School Board was held on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 5:45 P.M., in the Frederick
County Schools Administrative Offices, 1415 Amherst Street, Winchester, Virginia.
PRESENT
Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice Chairman Bill M. Ewing; Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.;
Gary W. Dove; Gene E. Fisher; Philip A. Lemieux; and Gary A. Lofton.
OTHERS PRESENT
John R. Riley, Jr., County Administrator; Jay E. Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator;
Cheryl B. Shiffler, Finance Director; Sharon Kibler, Assistant to the Finance Director; Jennifer
Place, Budget Analyst; Ellen M. Murphy, Commissioner of the Revenue; and C. William
Orndoff, Jr., "Treasurer; School Board members Dr. John Lamanna, Chairman; 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's Shickle and Lamanna called the worksession to order.
Dr. Lamanna advised the purpose of this meeting was for the School Board to give the
Board of Supervisors an overview of the Superintendent's proposed budget. The reductions in
this year's budget impact services, people, and programs. It was hoped this presentation would
give both bodies a mutual understanding of how this budget affects the schools.
Chairman Shickle stated this was the first opportunity for the Board of Supervisors to see
what the School Board has been doing and the Board was "anxious to see where you are."
Superintendent Taylor reviewed the Superintendent's FY 2010 proposed budget. The
proposed budget totals $153.4 million, which is $10.9 million below FY 2009's budget of $164.3
million. The FY 2010 budget reflects an $11.6 million decrease in operating revenue broken
down as follows: $3.5 million reduction in State revenue, $400,000 reduction in Federal
revenue; and $7.8 million reduction in local funding. The breakdown of local funding is as
f ollows:
- $2.3 million less due to projected county revenue short all
- $2.5 million less due to a reduction in the county's use of fund balance
Minute Book Number 34
Board of Supervisors Joint Budget Worksession with School Board of 02/10/09
228
$2.9 million less to cover the State's revenue loss on debt service.
This proposal includes a reduction of 121.6 positions, alternative uses for existing schools,
reduction in support department budgets, changes to instructional programs at the elementary,
middle, and high school levels, changes to instructional /extra - curricular programs in middle
school, including the elimination of middle school sports programs, to name a few.
At the conclusion of the Superintendent's presentation, School Director of Finance Lisa
Frye distributed the budget newsletter and a one -page summary of the budget for the Board's
reference.
Supervisor Lofton asked Superintendent Taylor to provide information about the
increased class sizes proposed in this budget.
Finance Director Frye briefly discussed the Governor's proposal to cap State spending on
support positions at $403 per student.
Supervisor Ewing asked what the total cost per student would be under this proposed
budget.
Finance Director Frye responded she was not sure of the exact number, but it would be
below $9,000, which was below the state average.
Supervisor Lemieux asked if thought was given to combining 7 and 8 grade sports
programs and eliminating freshmen sports.
Dr. Lamanna responded that the Board had considered that option. He went on to say
this proposed budget was the best of a worst case scenario.
County Administrator John R. Riley, Jr. advised that the General Assembly session
would end on February 28, 2009 and his biggest concern was the Assembly would leave
Richmond without a budget, in which case the County and Schools would remain in limbo in
their budget preparations. He went on to say, in that event, the Board could still adopt the tax
rate resolution, which would allow tax bills to be mailed, and adopt the budget at a later date.
Chairman Shickle thanked the School Board for a lot of hard work.
Their being no further business, the worksession was adjourned at 6:41 P.M.
�1
IKn R. Riley, Jr.
Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Richard C. Shickle
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book Number 34
Board or Supervisors Joint Budget Worksession with School Board or 02/10/09
229
Minutes Prepared By:
Jay Ti s
Deputy C erk, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book Number 34
Board of Supervisors Joint Budget Worksession with School Board of 02/10/09