The Alleghany
County Board of Commissioners reconvened the recessed budget meeting from
Present: County—Chair Eldon Edwards, Vice-Chair Warren
Taylor, Commissioner
Board of Education—Board Members;
Charles Joines, Clarence Crouse, Betsy Dillon and Sonia Joines. Staff; Duane Davis, Janice Linker, Phil
Howell, Barbara Lyon, Susan Murphy, Gary West, John Farrelly,
Chair Eldon Edwards called the meeting
to order at
Duane Davis discussed the format of the
Board of Education’s budget request. He stated
that he and the school personnel would explain their requests in detail
today. He presented data about the
successful school year that Alleghany County Schools has experienced. He reviewed the budget process and goals
throughout the school system.
Susan Nilo discussed that the school
system acquired a low-interest loan last year to purchase technological
equipment. She explained that the
equipment is only one of the components of technology. She reviewed items in the budget that make a
difference in the technology; additional facilitator and increase in fees for
the
Commissioner Warren Taylor and Susan
Nilo discussed the length of the prior contract, current contract of 100 hours
per month for $48,000 per year and the benefit of the Blue Ridge BDC services.
Janice Linker explained Ms. Nilo’s job duties
in relation to how she is helping the teachers in the classroom.
Commissioner
Commissioner
Chair Eldon Edwards, Duane Davis and
Janice Linker discussed legislative issues including the More at Four program
and the No-Child Left Behind program.
Duane Davis discussed the larger
classes that have been coming through the elementary schools and will be going
to the high school next year. He
explained how the high school has lost positions in the past few years.
Barbara Lyons explained how many
teachers have been lost and the need for the additional teachers due to
increased enrollment.
Commissioner Warren Taylor, Duane Davis
and
Kim Elliott and Joe Honeycutt discussed
the advantages of the AP courses, Channel 50 and the cyber campus programs.
Susan Murphy discussed the increased
enrollment of the upcoming kindergarten class at
Gary West discussed that the assistant
principal at
John Farrelly discussed the athletics
programs that are growing, the addition of new sports and the things that have
been completed in the past year.
Duane Davis discussed recruiting
teachers from other areas and the need for the supplement for new teachers.
Betsy Dillon reiterated the issues of
keeping the teachers here and recruiting new teachers to this area. She talked about the need for the
supplement.
County Manager
Susan Murphy talked about the number of
teachers that will be retiring in the next four to five years.
Phil Howell, Betsy Dillon and Charles
Joines discussed issues that the School system has in recruiting new teachers.
Commissioner
Duane Davis talked about addressing the
pay schedule for the athletic coaches.
Brenda Sutherland discussed the study
that was completed in the Spring that ranks the pay for these coaches in
relation to other counties’ coaches.
Kim Elliott discussed the staff
development issues that have been cut by the State making the school system ask
for the additional money from the County.
Duane Davis discussed the additional
mandates concerning school bus drivers having an additional license endorsement.
Phil Howell explained the how the license
fees are increasing due to the mandates and how it affects all of the drivers
including all part-time drivers.
Chair Eldon Edwards declared a brief
recess at
Duane Davis started to discuss the
capital outlay issues.
Susan Murphy addressed guttering issues
at
Barbara Lyon addressed the roofing
issues at the high school including several leaks through the building. She stated that the current roof was installed
in 1967.
Commissioner
Gary West and Phil Howell discussed the
air-conditioning units to be placed into service at Glade Creek and the price
of air-conditioning units.
Susan Nilo talked about capital needs
concerning technology.
Kim Elliott addressed needs including
calculators, library books, Science materials and consumable math materials and
math workbooks.
Phil Howell talked about the need of
replacing the kitchen equipment at
Barbara Lyon discussed the need for a timing
device for the swim team meets in order to compete better.
Duane Davis stated that they would look
at this option.
Duane Davis discussed the continuing
needs for the Channel 50 cable station.
He gave examples of how Channel 50 can increase the public’s awareness
of public meetings and activities. He
explained a ½ time position is being requested to assist in this area. He stated that this request is not included
in their budget, but they wanted to bring it to the Commissioners’ attention.
Commissioner
Duane Davis talked about the facility
needs of the school system especially the needs at
Phil Howell discussed additional
programming that has been added at the schools.
He discussed Piney Creek’s facility needs, the lack of space and new
mandates about State testing.
Commissioner
Phil Howell explained that the school
system has worked on projections concerning the facility needs for the next
five years.
Gary West stated the additional
programs and facility needs at
Susan Murphy stated the additional
programs and facility needs at
The Board of Commissioners stated that
they would like to see some definite long-range plans on the facility needs.
Duane Davis talked about how they are
going to function starting in August for the 2004-2005 school year for a
short-term fix. He explained the process
of creating a long-range plan. He
reviewed some of the ideas that have been discussed to address long-range
solutions. He stated that the Board of
Education is recommending purchasing the Springford building and renovating the
building for the school system.
Commissioner
Charles Joines explained how the
Springford building is a permanent long-term solution for the entire school
system.
Susan Murphy stated that they have not
had the opportunity to visit the facility until about a month ago. She explained the classes and activities that
they thought could be moved to the Springford building. She stated that as a school system, they
think there are enough facility needs to fill the building.
Chair Eldon Edwards and Duane Davis
discussed offering a purchase price for the Springford building and where the
money will come from for the purchase.
Commissioner Warren Taylor discussed
the architectural work that was completed first at
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that he
agrees that both boards need to get together to create a plan and work with an
architect to gather price information.
Commissioner Warren Taylor stated that
the Commissioners doesn’t take education lightly and reviews the school’s
budget at great detail. He stated that
the Board will take the information presented today and have more budget
meetings before anything is decided.
Clarence Crouse stated that this space
issue has arrived recently; therefore, the Board of Education hasn’t had the
time to create a long-range plan. He
talked about the need to look at designing a facility that serves as a
multi-purpose facility rather than locking into one type of facility use.
Chair Eldon Edwards talked about the
need for long-range planning.
Charles Joines talked about agreeing
with the comments that have been made at this meeting. He said he thinks that the school system
doesn’t have the money to have an architectural study completed.
Duane Davis talked about not having the
time or money to create a major architectural study on the facility. He further talked about the advantages of
purchasing the building now rather than completing a long-range plan and then
the building not be available for the planned use.
Charles Joines agreed with the
Commissioner
Charles Joines and Duane Davis stated
that currently there isn’t any property available for a new facility. Mr. Davis reiterated the fact of the
short-range and long-range problems. He
asked that the Commissioners look at the School system’s budget.
Chair Eldon Edwards stated that he
thinks the Boards need to work together to get this issue resolved.
Charles Joines stated that he
understands the
Chair Eldon Edwards reminded everyone
that there is a public hearing scheduled on proposed budget for
Chair Eldon Edwards thanked everyone
for coming to this meeting.
Chair Eldon Edwards recessed the
meeting at
Respectfully
submitted,
Clerk
to the Board
Attest:
Eldon
Edwards
Chairman