OAK RIDGE SCHOOLS Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Transcription

1 OAK RIDGE SCHOOLS Oak Ridge, Tennessee OAK RIDGE BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING APRIL 12, 2007 Conference/Seminar Room School Administration Building 7:00 p.m. A special meeting of the Oak Ridge Board of Education was held on Thursday, April 12, 2007, in the conference/seminar room of the School Administration Building. Members of the Board present were: Mr. John W. Smith, Jr., Chairman, Ms. Angi Agle, Mr. Dan DiGregorio, Mr. Keys Fillauer, and Ms. Jennifer Richter. Also present were: Dr. Thomas Bailey, Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Ken Green, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Karen Gagliano, Director of Business and Support Services, and other staff members. I. CALL TO ORDER The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., and stated that there was one item for action on the agenda this evening, and its purpose was to approve the 2008 Budget. II. ITEM FOR ACTION A. Approval of 2008 Budget The Superintendent recommended the approval of the FY 08 Proposed Budget in the amount of $46,330, in the General Operating Fund, and a grand total of all funds in the amount of $49,585, Mr. DiGregorio moved for approval of the Superintendent s recommendation. Seconded by Mr. Fillauer. The Superintendent noted that the members of the Board have a copy of those minor adjustments that Ms. Gagliano spoke to last week. He said he would like this put in the record to show that they were discussed, e.g., Partners in Education was taken out, an adjustment was made in principals salaries, and then the 2% salary increase for teachers and staff. The Chairman pointed out that the Board had received the proposed budget on March 29, 2007, and it was reviewed line item, by line item. He said Ms. Gagliano has given the Board a copy of the new budget as revised by some minor adjustments that the Board had made after going through budget line item by line item. The Chairman explained that there was one major addition to the budget as approved by the Board, as the Superintendent mentioned, and that was another 1% increase for teachers and staff.

2 Special Board Meeting Minutes -2- April 12, 2007 The Chairman commended the Superintendent and staff, and Ms. Gagliano and her staff, for bringing the Board a budget that allowed the members of the board to have a decent discussion. He said he knew it was a budget that was really not based on what the Board felt was needed, but one that could be taken to City Council, and hope to get approval, to continue to at least maintain what we have within the Oak Ridge Schools. The Chairman said he would be the first to say that staff, in his opinion, deserved a whole lot more than what was being present here. He explained that it was hoped that the Board could do better in the future. He said everyone has to get behind this budget; there was a schedule to deliver this budget tomorrow to City Council. The Chairman pointed out that the Superintendent, he, and the rest of the Board members have a scheduled date on April 30, 2007, to present to Council what their feelings were about this budget, and to ask for Council s support. He requested that Board members, staff, and community members would stand strong behind the Board s presentation, and to support what was being presented to the City. The Superintendent said based on the amount allocated in the City s Financial Plan, $494,876, this budget moving forward would request an additional $563,468. He said he hoped and prayed that this would fall on everyone s ears in the right manner: Everyone ought to be very proud of this school system, and what it has represented in its long history, and tradition. He pointed out that he thought the Board has presented a fair representation of the budget, it was put out there, and anyone in the public could look at it, line item by line item, to see exactly what was in there, and for what it was being spent. He said it would be seen just how little amounts were left in recurring dollars in furniture, and instructional supplies, much less him having to recommend a 1% salary for definitely one of the most dedicated staffs that he has ever worked for. He pointed out that they represented children well, and were deserving of much more than that. The Superintendent said he did not want to get ugly about it, and thought it was time for citizens who understood that this was not rhetoric. He pointed out that this was the factual reality of dollars that were needed to run a school system if ORS wanted to produce quality education, and to provide opportunities for students. The Superintendent recalled that citizens have stepped forward previously, and citizens have mentioned to him how much they valued the education system in Oak Ridge, more than anything else. He said he believed that, because he has seen it through their verbiage, although he did not necessarily see it in the actions of the financing, in those who have to make those decisions, but it was time for that to be dealt with. The Superintendent pointed out that if the budget came back and was not supported, there was nothing else in the budget to cut, except some things that would definitely make ORS different than what it has been for the history of this City. He explained

3 Special Board Meeting Minutes -3- April 12, 2007 that would mean the enrollment would go up, TAs who provided tremendous support for learning for children who needed help, and the quality of education that Oak Ridge students have had the opportunity to receive, would not be what it has been in the past. The Superintendent explained that he did not say that lightly, and he did not say it with any other conviction, then to say it was time to stand up for education and for the continuation of ORS as it was known in the past. He commented that if this was not done, it would become something less than what it has been. The Chairman said he would like to open a dialog on an article he had read this morning, written by Senator Randy McNally, regarding State funding. He explained that he would like to do this, because there was the potential that the budget may come back to the Board for the reasons of non-support by City Council. He added that it also may come back to the Board, because the State may not fund ORS to the level that was projected in this budget. The Chairman said he did have the opportunity to speak to Senator McNally yesterday by telephone, and the Senator s message to him was that they were desperately trying to fulfill Governor Bredesen s request at the level of what he wanted to do to support education, but it may come in a different format, other than a full.40 tax on tobacco products. The Chairman commented that it was a little bit encouraging, and it was a little bit difficult to understand, with all of the things that was put out during committee meetings. He said he thought the Senator was trying to push toward raising the percentage of teacher salaries that the State paid 65% to 75%, which would mean a little bit more money for Oak Ridgers. The Chairman commented that hopefully, ORS would get both the.40 increase on tobacco products, as well as the 75%, but he doubted it. The Superintendent commented that the Executive Director of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, had sent an discussing what had come out of the Tennessee House of Representatives, and obviously it was not the same thing that we had heard from the Governor during the Town Meeting. He said the Governor was still pushing that, and he believed that the cigarette tax should be earmarked for what it was intended, which has $468,000 in this budget. He explained that in addition that surplus as well as the BEP formula, which addressed the aspect that Senator McNally was looking at, also should be there. He said when Tennessee ranked 49 th in the country in funding education, that was one of the reasons it came back to the local in Tennessee, and the citizens of Oak Ridge have stepped forward and have supported education with that in mind. He commented that it also was time for the State to do something as well; the two go hand-in-hand in elevating education in the State of Tennessee. The Superintendent noted that maybe not all of the cigarette tax would be passed, but it be would at some level; if that did not happen, $468,000 would have to be cut. The motion carried 5-0.

4 Special Board Meeting Minutes -4- April 12, 2007 ADJOURNMENT Mr. Mark Diemer, 105 Mockingbird Lane, said he was speaking on behalf of some of the members of OREA, and also on a personal note. He explained that he could not begin to tell the Board what a boost it was to see that the proposed pay adjustments were doubled. He said the 2% was greatly appreciated, and commented that there was not a person in this room, or watching, that did not think that should be 22%. Mr. Diemer explained that he was not sure what OREA could do in terms of support of the Board. He pointed out that if a direction was to be taken, they needed to be talking to City leaders, and those in this town who could make a difference in sharing with City Council members who had voted 7-0 against the budget last year, to try to change their minds for education for children. Mr. Diemer said he was open to suggestions in how to help the Board. He commented that staff members have said how proud they were of the School Board when it was stated that something has to be done; enough was enough. He thanked the members of the Board for all that they do. The Chairman noted that at this point in time there has not been a 1 st Reading on the budget. He suggested that people continue to contact City Council members, and asking them to support this budget, and ask them to put education first as a priority in this City, and to continue to do so. He pointed out that the City s budget and Fiance Committee s guidelines were detrimental to the quality of education that we have in the ORS. Mr. Shane Deichman, 107 Winchester Circle, said this was his first Board meeting. He explained that unequivocally, he had moved to Oak Ridge, five months ago, because of the schools. He pointed out that he has a child in Kindergarten and a fourth grader in Linden Elementary School. He said he would pledge his support, as a citizen, for what the Board was doing here, and hopefully, more could be done. Mr. Deichman stated that he knew this was a phenomenal school district; it has achieved tremendous accomplishments. He said it was what had attracted his family to this area. He commented that he could have moved to Farragut and saved a couple of thousand dollars a year in property taxes, but he came here because of the schools. Mr. Deichman pointed out that he would do whatever he could to support and hopefully, to advance this very important cause. The Chairman declared the meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m. John W. Smith, Jr. Oak Ridge Board of Education John W. Smith, Jr., Chairman

5 Special Board Meeting Minutes -5- April 12, 2007 Thomas E. Bailey Superintendent, Oak Ridge Schools Thomas E. Bailey, Ed.D. Carol M. Sauer Clerk, Oak Ridge Board of Education Carol M. Sauer April 23, 2007 Date Approved