The Union County Board of Education discussed maintenance, buses, employee sick leave, substitute pay and legislation at its February meeting.
Union County High School is now nearly 26 years old and needs a new roof.
Insurance has paid $73,000 for some storm damage. But the new roof will cost $203,000, according to the estimate received by Vernon Weaver and Mike Johnson and verified by the bid from Henley Roofing Company, Inc.
The board plans to use ESSER funds but has asked for assurance from Henley that it can meet the federal requirements for the use of these funds.
Lenny Holt, transportation supervisor, explained the grant and the board’s responsibilities for purchasing two alternative fuel buses. These buses would carry 72 passengers, have an extended warranty and need a charging station.
The cost of the buses would be approximately $790,000, paid by the grant. The system expense would be the cost of about $30,000 for the charging station and the annual maintenance of the buses for brakes, tires and antifreeze. Central finance will handle the bid for the grant.
The board is updating its policies which caused several questions on sick leave and the sick leave bank.
Apparently, some board members were unaware that unused sick days roll to experience for retirement purposes with every 20 days of unused sick leave equaling a month of experience. Nor did a couple of board members understand the purpose of the sick leave bank and its regulations.
The sick leave bank has been used to enable a seriously ill employee to recuperate when the sick leave has been exhausted or to allow a seriously or terminally ill new employee to have enough sick leave to recuperate.
The bank is comprised of sick days donated by employees and only those who donate can receive the benefit. The bank has only been used a handful of times in some 40 years. Director Clay and Ronnie Mincey will obtain the documents so the board can better understand these important benefits.
Missy Brown, finance director, informed the board that substitute pay increases need to be discussed for the FY 24 budget. She outlined three plans.
The first plan would increase noncertified substitutes to $70 and certified subs to $80 at an increase in the budget of $32,349.
The second plan would pay noncertified subs $80 and certified subs $90 which would be an increase of $48,978.
The third plan would pay $90 for noncertified and $100 for certified subs and would be an increase of $73,061.
Rebecca Lock, 7th District board member, is the legislative chairman for the BOE. Lock reported that 14 bills have been submitted regarding changes to the third-grade retention act that was passed last year. She commented that she would be meeting with Senator Frank Niceley to discuss the issue.
The next meeting of the BOE is March 9 at Paulette Elementary.