Director of Schools Dr. Jimmy Carter and Finance Director Missy Brown shared estimates in revenues and expenditures for the FY23 School Budget at the Union County Board of Education Meeting on April 12.
Projected increases in revenue include local sales tax, the virtual school payment, and BEP growth funds. Salaries as well as equipment and supply costs account for most of the expenditure increases.
The increase in the beginning salary for teachers from $40,000 to $41,000 as well as a restructuring of the non-certified pay scale to $11 per hour accounted for the most of the salary changes.
Andrew Reed, board member from district 6, asked that benefits also be reviewed. Carter said that he would look at the total package of salary and benefits to compare with surrounding counties and maybe this objective could be put in the strategic plan. However, Carter was reluctant to offer a benefit increase without knowing if the next year's revenue could sustain the change.
Since final revenues will not be available until July, the board’s budget for FY23 is based on the 2022 BEP revenues. The budget will be reviewed more at the May meeting.
Another item that received attention was the school calendar. Several changes due to COVID and weather had occurred during the current year. Carolyn Murr, President of UCEA, voiced a concern over the spring break occurring two weeks after the end of the grading period. She said that students and teachers seemed to need an earlier break.
Carter stated that he had received similar feedback from principals. However, the board did not change the spring break for the 2022-2023 school year since vacations for students and employees may be affected.
The board did amend the current calendar to make May 23 the last full day for students, designated May 24 and May 25 as professional development days, named May 26 as an administrative day, and labeled Friday, May 27, as the last student half day. The 22-23 calendar was amended regarding the professional development days with staggered scheduling included at the beginning of the year.
Food Services Supervisor Mary Effler addressed the board regarding adult lunches. A state review noted that adult lunch prices were not covering the cost of the lunch. Adults were paying $3.75 for a lunch that cost $3.97 to prepare. The board approved the cost of adult lunches to be $4.25 for the daily meal and $5.50 for holiday meals to begin next school year in the hope that the increase would cover adult lunches for at least the next two school years.
Judy White, adjacent property owner to Luttrell School, requested that the board consider a property transfer. She owns the land informally called the Bates property. White is willing to pay for a survey to consider transferring a portion of the property at the back of her lot to the board and receive a similar amount of property from the board on the side next to Luttrell School. Carter and Brad Griffey, board member for district 2, will visit the property and gather all of the information to make a recommendation to the board in May.
In other action, the board approved two TSBA policy changes on the first reading. The first,1.102 School Board, restated the current terms and representation of the board, and the second, 6.206 Open Enrollment, sets a time for open enrollment to allow a student to request to attend a school out of the home zone. In addition, the board approved a policy change for the due date of a federal programs budget to be 30 days after the beginning of the fiscal year. The board also approved contracts for physical therapy and some bus contracts.
Carter announced that a public meeting will be held at HMMS to obtain feedback from parents and interested citizens regarding the new middle school. He also related that $9M of state money for a TCAT/WSCC in Union County has been put in the state budget.
The next meeting of the Union County Board of Education will be Thursday, May 12, at 6 p.m. for the workshop with the meeting to follow afterwards.