001like to call to order the work session for April 10th to order for the Glen County Board Board of Education. And we'll start with the items of information, Mr. Michael. Thank you. We'll go ahead and and get started with Miss Cody and a financial update. by the heat. [Music] Okay. So we'll start with the February financial report. We did not have any budget amendments in February and then [Applause] um our um as of February our um revenues were at 81.3% of budget and our expenditures were at 61.6% of budget. The budget position at the end of February was 66.7%. So we're we're right in line where we need to be. Um there any questions on the budget? Okay. So then moving on to the February investment analysis. Um in February we had interest of $654,98.98.
002So, if there are no questions on the financials, then I will move on to the budget update. [Music] Um, so the first thing that you have in your packet are our budget assumptions. Um, I'm going to go ahead though and scroll to your page three. um as we go through the assumptions. So um before I get started, I kind of just wanted to give a brief overview to the new board members just kind of what our budget process is. So what I do is I start with the um estimated beginning fund balance, which is the estimated ending balance from the prior fiscal year. Then I take the current year's revenues and add estimated increases and subtract uh any estimated decreases. And then I do the same with expenditures. So um if we have an excess
003of revenues over expenditures, we'll have an increase in fund balance. And then if we have a um excess of expenditures over revenues, there will be a decrease in fund balance. And some of you may notice that the revenue and expenditure amounts are slightly different than what was on the February financials. And that is because the reports that I used to build the budget I ran at the beginning of April. So that's the the little bit of difference. So I estimated a $4,720,800 increase in local tax revenue at the current mill rate of 4.90. Um, I used a 6% increase in the tax digest and a 97% collection rate to come up with that figure. Uh, we will receive additional QBE funding for the certified health insurance increase, which I estimated at 1.5 million. Um, I'm
004hoping by the May work session, we will have our initial QBE aotment. So, that will be an exact number. It won't just be an estimate. Um, so that puts our total fiscal year 26 revenues at $190,736,700. Uh, we have three mandated expenditure increases. The first is a um increase of TRS of 1.13%. And that would be an additional cost of $1,217,300. State health insurance will increase $125 per month for certified staff and $35 per month for our classified employees. The cost increase is $1,423,500 for certified and 1,643,500 for classified. So that gives our um total increase for mandated expenditures $4,284,300. And then I will move on to the non-mandated. We have our uh annual salary step increases for certified at 1,22,700 and for our non-certified or classified um $462,500. We have um five new positions
005budgeted for next year. We have two district behavior specialists. Our two high school um inschool suspension para positions are going to be changed to teaching positions. And then we are going to move our mental health coordinator who is currently federally funded into the general fund. So the total increase for that is um $488,000. Um we have a budgeted increase for supplements of $54,500. Those are for athletic, academic, and um lead supplements. The majority of those are new supplements. We had a um phase in process uh for for last fiscal year and or for this fiscal year and next fiscal year. So this is the second half of that phase in. Um as a result of our aotment meetings, we had a decrease of six um positions. It was one teacher and five paras. Um I
006did want to point out that these were positions that were eliminated, not people. So if the position was eliminated, the people were um given a job at a different school. Um so that was a decrease in expenditures of $354,800. And then I um budgeted an increase in departmental budgets of $391,600. The majority of that increase was for our casualty and um cyber insurance. We were told to expect an 18 to 25% increase. So um I budgeted on the 25% and just to keep us covered. Um then the last few years we have had a transfer to the capital outlay fund budgeted. I did eliminate that transfer for the school year 26. And so the last item that we have are local uh salary and benefit increases. As you know, the last few years we have
007been striving to keep our employees salaries in the top three of the first district REIS so that we stay competitive so that we can attract and maintain highly qualified individuals. So based on a local salary study that was done comparing Glen County to other districts in our salaries have fallen out of the top three districtwide. So because of this we're recommending a salary increase for all Glen County school employees. The cost for the increase in salary and benefits is 7,854,760. So overall, our expenditures would exceed our revenues by $4,525,860. So we would be using our fund balance to offset that overage. Any questions? Just a couple. Um, can you remind me? I know we talked about being we always do. We're conservative going into the new year we as we start developing the budget. But
008last year, what was the actual increase in the tax digest? I know we're looking at six. You remember what it was for last year? The actual that is the one thing I did not bring. Um, and then I think I want to say it was was it more than six? Oh. Oh, the percentage it was 4.5. 4.5. Okay. It was 4.5. Yeah. And then the um actual collection rate we've been running 98.99 but we talked about it slowing a little bit. It has slowed. I did talk to the tax commission's office and they recommended 97 which is why I went with that. The only other thing I'd ask is that um with the 7.8 8 in salary increases is there I listen I know that 90% of our budget is you know salaries and benefits
009and so it's it's hard to cut you know a lot of stuff if we I know we got some riff positions and some some things going away but is there anywhere else that y'all look to try to offset $8 million in new expenditures for salaries and benefits you know that's just a I mean that's a lot not to have another line item at least trying to offset some of that you know you can only cut up so much paper and toilet paper and books and that sort of thing but and one thing I will say too is I know in the past we have had these operating transfers at the end of the year, right? Um I don't really know where every so that that fund balance is a true estimate because I don't really
010know where things are going to fall out until we end the year. So it is possible that that fund balance will be larger um and that you know that it that it won't be such that we won't be cutting into the fund balance as much. Um, that also that estimated beginning fund balance includes us making a $3 million operating transfer this year. So, if we don't make that operating transfer, right, that balance would be $3 million higher. So, that that's also an option to keep us from going into fund balances. And to your point, yeah, salaries are a huge portion of the budget. And from a percentage standpoint, that 7.8 8 represents less than a 5% salary increase, right? When you calculate salary benefit, it's less than 5%. Well, one thing I wanted to point
011out, we do have steps. So, and listen, we've always approved, you know, when y'all recommended that. So, I'm not saying we're not going to do that or look at it, but we do have salary steps that are built in and other things too that that we look at every year. And it's just a it's the first time I can remember in a long time unless I just forgetting about something that we've that we've gone over in expenditures over revenues. Right. But one thing also to keep in mind is we have been making those operating transfers. So that's you know kind of and we do have great investments and stuff like that going. So I mean all that's a positive thing but I was just curious about well one thing I also wanted to point out
012is I looked back to last year just to kind of compare what the changes looked like. And so last year we added 22 positions to the general fund and we also funded that $2 non-exempt raise that eventually we that we started out with ESSER that then moved to general. So I I looked last year and our um our increase to the general fund expenditures last year was 11.8 million. So we're really 700,000 under what the increase was last year. And that salary that's 7.8 A is that in is that exempt and not exempt? Is that everyone? It's everybody. It's everything. And we're looking at 6.2 more than 6.2 of increase in revenues, but we've also been cutting our military every year, too. So, that's part of I mean, if we're looking at keeping it the
013same, it's lower by a whole mill or even more than that, I think, over the last several years. So, yeah. And we know we always have the mandatory increases that we just can't help. So we start generally $4 or5 million in the whole before we even start with the with the mandatory health insurance and TRS increases and that sort of thing. So I mean that's always starting in the in the negative is is always hard. Well, I think exemptions will be in and I should have another estimate from the tax assessor by the May work session and and like I said, I'm also hoping that we'll have that initial QBE aotment number, you know, that that won't be an estimate. It'll be a definite. Okay. Thank you. And that estimated ending fund balance, that's is
014that very conservative like the worst it can get? Yeah. Yes, it is. Okay. So, that could end up being higher. And then the you know the local salary and benefit increase what that will mean every employee is in the top three in RIA pretty much. Yes. It's really hard because you really don't compare apples to apples but that that is the closest that we can get everybody. I mean that that I would feel comfortable saying that most positions in the district would be in the top three. It would be hard to jump from 15th to third overnight. Not sure. Right. And you know, I like the fact that we're going to be competitive and but it says a lot about the overall school system that we still have the money to do that. And you
015know, by doing that, I think it'll just ultimately increase student achievement. So, so thank you. My biggest number has been that the fund balance being 20 million. I mean, since I started the school board, that's been the number to stick stick to to be able to afford mishaps if you will. So, thank you for that. You're welcome. Any other questions? Okay, moving on. I believe the next is the St. Simon's change order, which yes, control. No, you rise. You don't have tears. Y'all fighting. I keep I just don't have a mouse. Okay. This is the final change order for the St. Sms Elementary School construction and our contract with Mcnite Construction. And uh this will close out the project, the final phase, phase five with Mcnite um once this is approved. and it is a
016credit back for $73,666 um off of the contract. So, it's a it's a a negative change where we we receiving the uh credit back um from the contract. That was what was uh was saved out of the contingency as we closed the project out. And this again, this will wrap up the Mcnite portion of the construction. We still have a few lingering things that we're handling in-house um on the site, but this will will take care of the night contract. Where are you putting that money? I'm just kidding. It goes back into East Plus4. Next, uh Heywood, good evening everybody. Evening. Um the first two on the Eastwash projects, of course, we have the two projects going on right now, the College of Coastal Georgia Fine Arts Center, and it is progressing well. It is
017um you can definitely see it from Altown and Forest Street because it is lime green, the exterior of the of the building. Um so it's it's progressing well. Uh the second east blocks project is um the board of education office and um as you can see the canopy has been demoed um now we are have to get it sand blasted and we are waiting because that's going to have to be done outside of business hours um because of the mess that it's going to make um with the sand blasting. And then on wing three, they are moving along very well. All the metal studs are in place and all of the offices are all separated out and the office spaces are done. So, they're moving along well with that. Um, with our I'm sorry, those
018were our local um capital uh local a local capital outlay funded projects. Now we'll move on to the East Bloss um projects which is the BHS fieldhouse. Um they begin work on Monday with the footers in the foundation and they should be pouring the footers sometime next week for the fieldhouse and then the new Glendale Elementary School. Um the RFP for the site clearing has already been out and I will be coming back looking for a um approval for the GMP uh for the site clearing on that at the May board meeting. Um, now we'll move on to the good report and we'll look [Music] at and as you can see for the month of March we have taken in $69,993.13 um which is off of residuals. Um so that is very good a lot
019more than expected and you can see that in comparison to the previous months and then [Applause] lastly I'm requesting that the board approved for the installation and the uh purchasing of new fire panel and detection devices for the Goodyear elementary um school through ASG Associated Systems of Georgia in the amount of $64,700. Um this is the same system that we did over the last summer at Greer. Um just parts are becoming hard to find in that old system um and becoming obsolete. So, but the good thing we will be able to use those parts to uh if we have issues at the old Glendale, well, well, Glendale until we uh build the new school, we'll be able to use those parts from there. So, $64,700 is what it will cost to redo the system at
020Goodyear Elementary. And that is all I have. I have a question for you. Do we have an updated estimated completion date on the fieldhouse work? It's about a 10-month project from now. Okay. From now, yes. Okay. It's about a 10-month project and we'll work around the football team as best we can and when they come summer and football season, but it's about a 10-month project. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions? We'll move to Mr. Benson, good evening. Good evening. Um, believe it or not, the end of the 2425 school year is right around the corner and we are preparing for the 2526 school year. So, as part of that, we have a a request tonight to renew the incident IQ software. Um, this is our technology software that we use to handle things
021like technology requests. So if you're having an issue with your computer or you can't access a website, you put in a ticket and and technicians will come out and take care of that. This is also the software that we use for maintenance requests. A lot of our inventories at our schools, our Chromebooks, those types of things are all handled through this software. So um incident IQ is part of the state purchasing contract and so we are requesting that we renew this um for the 2526 school year. Any questions? Mr. Wat. So, speaking on the wait room addition that Mr. Hegel was just speaking of, we are asking the board to approve the weight room equipment. This would um equip the entire fieldhouse um with um we're basically increasing a lot in size. So now we
022will be able to fit 96 stations in this new fieldhouse which is a comparable what Academy currently has. Um so the current cost for this would be 346,675 and that's everything from the metal all the way to the bands to the kettle bells to the jump boxes. Everything's included in that price. When did we last? How come I feel like it wasn't long ago that we did this? Or is it I've just been here too long? We didn't redo the weight room. We we placed we placed some additional weight equipment on the stage. Um yeah, we did on the stage um at the for the baseball and and I guess basketball other teams. We purchased some at GA and we did purchase the GA the new weight room at GA. We purchased that. Mhm. So
023basically right now Glenn Academy has three weight rooms and Brunswick has two. And this will put both schools at the exact same number and with comparable facilities at both and um the attachments basically just the quote from the company for the 346,000 with details on everything you're getting. Miss Miller. So I am requesting tonight um funds to complete the inst well not the installation but to complete the purchase of classroom cameras for elementary schools. So, this would include this this total of a million um 2070 would be to purchase cameras for every elementary classroom that we have as well as faces prek with the exception of Glendale Elementary. We're going to hold off on Glendale um and see what the projected completion date is is on Glendale. And if it's not too far out, we're
024just going to put cameras at the new school and not at the current site. Um but that would um include that that completes the purchase of all classroom cameras K through 12 at this point. And we'll be using um East 3 interest I believe to pay for this. You say preK through preK through this give us cameras in all the classrooms. Yes. With sound. This will be cameras with um audio that goes along with it. And it's the cameras that are not only can be used like you for security purposes, but they also have the instructional components where the teachers can can view the Smartboard and they can replay it, you know, for students that are absent or who may may not be be able to attend school. Is it just cameras or there additional
025servers and storage space and that sort of thing included? Um, not included on this quote. There's not. There will be some additional wiring and installation cost. um that we're doing through a company with NSC and we're getting quotes for that now by school. We're starting at Al Tama with installation on cameras. Do you estimate by the beginning of the 2526 school year that they'll be in place or probably more like Christmas? Okay. Up and running because I'm sure there's lead time for the Okay. Thank you. There's Is that right? Four is the 460 cameras and I just I'm just read the start of the docu. How many cameras? Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, the disc. Yeah. 460 cameras. And then Yeah. And then there's also mounts that are associated with those like new Glendale. Is this
026type stuff just going to be in the package at the start? Okay. Yeah. Well, yeah, we will we don't have to come back and add these type things later, right? That No, they will be installed during the construction. Yes. It may not it probably will not fall underneath the construction contract. Okay. We will do but it will be handled at the same time. Same as we do the intercom or the fire pan, those types. And just so the board knows, these we've had a lot of positive feedback from teachers about the cameras in their classrooms. the um middle school teachers and the high school teachers have really enjoyed them being in there. Um they have complete control of when the cameras come on, when the cameras come off. So if it's their planning period and
027they don't want the cameras on during their lunch or planning period, they they set the schedule for the cameras. So as long as there's students in the room, the expectation is the cameras are are on and recorded. But if there's no students in the room, then they can certainly turn the cameras off at that time. Can they turn the cameras off and the students are in the room? They could, but that's not our our policy. Our our protocols are for the cameras to be on if students are present. And if they do turn it off and we have a security stream running in the background that we would pick up the footage. Just making sure because if they get mad at a student and don't want to record it. I'm not saying they would do
028that, but you can't tell me that's not going to happen. We have access to it. Okay. Yep. Cuz I can see that. You got to look at what people can do. Any other questions? Complete your report. All right. Uh, that brings us down to executive session. Right now, I think we have land, personnel, tribunal. Do we have anything else? I entertain a motion to go into executive session for land, personnel, and tribunal. So, motion by Mr. Dodging. Second. Second by Miss Lee. Any discussion? All in favor, raise your hand. And it's unanimous at 5:26. to go back into open session. Motion by Miss Lee, second by Mr. Holsey. All in favor? All right. Before we adjourn, I'd like to just make a comment to the public that as of right now, we have not made
029a decision about appointing the district five four, I'm sorry, district five U board member. Um, what we're going to try to do is narrow it down to two or three over this next weekend. And then on Tuesday, we'll have two two or three names and then we'll go into deliberations. We may even have an interview process uh special call board meeting. So uh with that said, entertain a motion to go or to adjurnn. To go home to go home to go. So move motion by Mr. Holsey to adjourn. Second. Second by Miss Sams. All in favor? And we are journ.