School Board Reacts to Budget Proposal

Despite an additional $2.5 million dollars in funding from the State of Tennessee, the Jefferson County Department of Education found itself needing a little more than $253,000 in cuts to keep the maintenance of effort( the amount of local funding that is mandated) at the current funding level. Jefferson County Finance Director Potts informed the Jefferson County School Board that the County is currently facing a $1 million dollar shortage and it is unlikely that the Budget Committee would look favorably on any increase in the maintenance of effort that is afforded to the Department of Education from local funds. An increase in the worth of a penny allowed the DOE to budget an additional $253,000 in items that would create an increase in the local contribution and Finance Director Potts indicated that he had informed the DOE that cuts would likely need to be made.

School Board Members expressed concern that the budget, as presented, would be returned by the Jefferson County Budget Committee and requested that department heads make the necessary cuts($253,000) to restore the maintenance of effort to the current year’s level. After meeting for several minutes, department heads returned with a list of cuts that included a slice into teacher raises and bus funds among several other categories. Board Members Bradley, Cavanah and Potts, three of the four members present for Thursday’s Called Meeting( Jarnigan)vocalized their concerns regarding the items that department heads chose to impact in the trimming process.

Bradley stated that he would not be in favor of cuts that bite into teacher raises. The State of Tennessee windfall was intended to address salary issues for Jefferson County Educators and $1.7 million was used for for salary line items including a 2.2 % raise for certified and classified employees. It was also used to cover the expense of a new ELS position, an hourly wage “uplift”, differentiated pay increase, planned step raises < 21 years, $5 per day increase in substitute teacher pay, and to cover the salaries of adult education and nursing supervisor positions that were previously covered by grants. The remaining bulk of funds appeared to be utilized in the Operation/Maintenance category which proposed an increase of $409,000 in funding. Included in that category was a Custodial position at JCHS ( $30,000), a Lead Custodian ( $56,000), Custodial Promotions ( $ 38,000) and Receiving Personnel ( $43,000). Other increased items were $50,000 in custodial supplies, $29,000 in contracted services and $22,000 in supplies and materials.

Board Member Cavanah said that she could not support slicing into the textbook line and Board Member Potts also wanted to take switching new buses for used bus purchases off of the chopping block. To that purpose, Potts offered a Motion that instructed a reduction in the budget by $253,000 toward the maintenance of effort without decreasing salaries, textbooks or purchasing used buses in lieu of new buses. Her motion also included establishing $200,000 to address Capitol Project needs. Currently there is no Capitol Project money in the budget proposal. Potts was 2nd by Bradley and the Motion was Approved unanimously.

Other items of discussion included a large computer and software purchase to implement the 20/20 Vision Project which would put individual student computers or devises in every math classroom 6-12. The initial cost of the program is $629,000. Board Members suggested that at least of portion of the funds for the implementation of the program could be found in the technology budget. The Board also approved general purpose and federal budget amendments, both with no fund balance impact.

Finance Director Potts indicated that roll over funds left over from this fiscal year will likely be slight and could fall anywhere from zero to $100,000. Department of Education Administrators are expected to bring back a new budget proposal Tuesday at 4pm, when the Board will convene for a Called Meeting.

Source: K. Depew, News Director