Differentiated Pay Changes Find Smooth Sailing but Capital Projects Plan Hits Rocky Waters
Thursday, September 8, 2016 marked the first meeting of the new composition of the Jefferson County School Board. Board Members met in a Called Meeting at the Patriot Academy to elect new officers and address concerns regarding the Differentiated Pay Plan and the Capital Projects Plan, as well as approve a field trip request. Three new Board Members, Cox, Solomon and Fair, took their seats at the table for Thursday’s meeting. Senior Board Members Vines, Jarnigan, Potts and Bradley were also in attendance. The initial act of the new Board was the seating of a Chair and Vice Chair. Jim Vines was elected unanimously to serve as Chairman and exiting Chair Jarnigan will serve as Vice Chair.
Board Member Potts, who requested the Called Meeting, brought a motion to amend the Differentiated Pay Plan and remove the portion that required that teachers miss no more than nine days in order to qualify for the differentiated pay. Several Board Members spoke in support of the amendment, noting that qualifying points for a level five teacher are stringent and demanding. Potts’ motion was seconded by Cox and was approved 6-0-1 with Fair abstaining.
The issue of a Capital Projects Plan was not as open and shut, as the Board was closely split in regard to which of two plans to take before County Commission. Previously the Jefferson County Commission had requested that the Board bring a plan that would outline projected and identified needs of the Department of Education. The Department of Education did submit a long range plan that tallied nearly $29 million dollars. However, Commissioners deemed the plan too expansive and requested a pared down version that would outline specific needs that might be presented for funding in the shorter term, with an eye on eliminating what the Commission viewed as continuing emergency capital projects requests. Director of Jefferson County Schools Edmonds offered the Board a revised version of the initial plan that was derived using a scoring rubric and covered a 23 year span. It also included some funding mechanisms including a $14 million dollar district wide roofing and HVAC project that would be funded through county financing. The total cost of the plan was just shy of $30 million dollars. Board Member Jarnigan offered a motion to accept the almost $30 million dollar plan that was presented by the Department of Education and his motion was 2nd by Cox. Board Members Bradley and Potts requested to preview a plan that had been submitted by Board Member Potts before making a decision on what to send to the County Commission.
In contrast, Board Member Potts submitted a three year Capital Projects Plan that outlined some safety and security needs that had been discussed, as well as window replacement at several schools and other various projects. Potts’ plan came in at $5,282,485 with $1.5 million of that total to be allocated in this school year. After an extended period of debate, the Jarnigan/Cox motion failed 4-3 with Potts, Bradley, Solomon and Fair voting against. Potts made a motion to accept the three year plan and was 2nd by Bradley. The motion was approved 5-2 with Cox and Jarnigan voting No.
Following the approval of the three year plan, Board Member Jarnigan made a motion to approve up to $200,000 for repairs to the Jefferson County High School Baseball Stadium. The stadium repairs were the first item listed on the three year plan and were deemed a potential safety hazard. This year’s budget allocates $200,000 for capital needs. Jarnigan was 2nd by Solomon and the motion Passed 5-2 with Potts and Bradley voting No.
Board Member Potts made a Motion to fund the 2016-17 year of the three year Capital Projects Plan, minus the already approved baseball stadium repairs and paving at Jefferson County High School, for a total funding of $726,188 with $40,840 coming from reserves and $685,348 from fund balance. The motion was 2nd by Bradley and failed 4-3 with Fair, Cox, Vines and Jarnigan voting No.
In other action, the Board approved an overnight field trip request and the recommendation of the Director of Schools regarding the non enrollment of a student at Jefferson County High School.
