001[music] >> Welcome to our budget session meetings. We call this a special call meeting and it is and we welcome everyone to be with us. The public will be able to hear and participate in this meeting. And we will declare it to come to order at 2:00 p.m. Would you all stand with us as we recite our pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. You may be seated. Hope you have board members, hope you had an opportunity to look at our agenda for this meeting. If you had an opportunity to look at the agenda, could I hear a motion for approval of the agenda? Mr. Chairman,
002move for the approval of the agenda as printed. It's been moved and properly second that we will approve our agenda for this meeting. All in favor of the motion, let me know by saying I. Opposed, same sign. The motion carries. Item three, our budget discussion document. Thank you, Madam Chair. This is in some ways going to be a repeat presentation that we had the last board meeting regarding budget. And as I noted then, local budget season is coming up, obviously, and some things that we presented last time regarding capital needs, local current expense. And then also some things we're having to deal with within the budget, potential loss of funding across the board, which other school districts across North Carolina are having to deal with as well. So, for the May, I'm going to ask
003uh Ms. Austin to pass out with the capital piece first. And it's uh it's from the same list that I presented to you last time in regards to items that we're talking about items for what we think might be needs. And also things that we need to items that we completed last year as well. And this will actually correlate to something we have every year, which is sort of the the focus with with budget. It's to show you different things. Some of what you've seen before. And Thank you. And also also some things that maybe you haven't seen before. So, uh if y'all are okay with it, I'll start with the capital capital stuff. Can I go with that? I think that's the same I think that's the same list you've seen before that I
004presented last time. And so, let me let me talk that through a little bit. Uh in this in this part of the budget, certainly we're we're grateful to the county commissioners for the work and support they provided us over uh the last couple years. They they increased the amount of money that came to us $350,000 that's what They increased that by $450,000 to support that. Some some of that was obviously with the merger of schools from East and West. So, that that's only helped us build facilities for us. We also get funding through local sales tax. And also funding for lottery, which is we have something on the agenda today So, if you can see, it's a long list of items. They have some potential costs for them. These costs are are estimates to the
005all the best uh estimates right now what they are. As you know, those costs ebb and flow some as we look at different projects and and what they are. Uh So, that that's the first thing on the list of priority list today. It starts at the very top. We're talking about the roof at Phillips. Uh East as an example, just so everybody knows that type of building. Uh We see roof sections, uh boilers, uh HVAC upgrades, those kind of things. And those are sort of the the meat and potatoes of what we try to do to make sure that we're doing things as I also noted at the previous uh feel like that we're hopefully being more proactive and more uh preventive maintenance with with things that we're trying to do and trying to make
006sure we do everything we can to maintain and keep the the longevity of our So, one of the things as you're looking through this and talking about this, you you don't have to have this today, but look through things and and provide any feedback you want to provide to me about where we are the department how we're going to make and again this is this isn't listed out so much as a priority it's a large list of things that we want to try to do. Okay? Uh yes ma'am. Uh I have a question on the front page. Uh say for an example uh built roof uh is there a possibility that uh some of the items such as a roof could we not could we get on >> [clears throat] >> I don't know how
007to express it but could we not say for an example Phillips uh >> [snorts] >> look at this like later not next year but maybe and some of the other things probably uh we don't have to do in this year's budget. Well uh to begin there's not going to be enough money to do everything that's on this list. Okay. Okay. That Okay. >> [laughter] >> I I would just >> Now now if there is enough money to do everything on this list we're going to be really good shape. Uh but uh I I would just be I I think I think what I'm saying here is we we've always I I've always taken the approach of trying to document what we see as needs and then we try to prioritize that. Oh okay. If that
008makes sense. Sure does. Uh everybody good with that? Uh And then you know sometimes things present themselves where you have an opportunity to do something at a better price than you know you're doing some other it's it's just different decisions along the way and then there's some things that happen that you didn't expect were going to happen and you have to use capital funding for that too. So it's a lot of different things to to look at. So uh what what I've done here is again giving you sort of a a perspective on things a visual that that we try to use and then you're welcome to look through through that and and again as I've said before uh it's no secret that we have some aging facilities and buildings. Obviously SR funding SR funding
009helps a lot with uh replacing boilers and chillers uh we we tried to be very proactive in what we're trying to do in relation to things that would give us the biggest biggest opportunity to to support our schools and have good facilities. So uh it's always a always going to be a work in progress. If you look back in in the very back of your booklet you have again the cost outline for different things. And then you also have a list of maintenance projects that that were completed this year. As you see it's it's a long long long list of of things there that we that we tried to do. That's not everything we've done. That's that's the list for this year the one in yellow it's in the very back and then a list
010of things in the back that we've done this year. We also provided the last four years. And typically typically what we have done is in making the request we requested what is on this the priority list unless you all want us to scale that back some in the request. I understand of course that we we we obviously want to continue to get the amount of money we're getting we'd love to get some more to get everybody giving what's typical budgets. And again you'll you'll have some other opportunities certainly to ask questions about feedback and you want to go ahead and continue the conversation from last time. So these are in the the ones in the back with the yellow are in priority. They they they're not in priority order they're just they're just listed out.
011They're just listed out. >> Okay. But we can certainly as as we work through this with maintenance we can certainly give you a priority. Uh they they know what needs to be done right away. And we we have those discussions often. Okay. They see it every day. We would put it in energy capital to explain things. The capital funding that you really get from the state is through what I would say through the lottery. So so when the lottery funding comes in we can decide we make decision as to Yes ma'am. Uh what we need from the lottery to feed into the capital Yes ma'am. funding that they And there's also some local sales tax that's used. Okay. Uh So so we could see based on that first section that we have in this booklet
012[snorts] uh we get that total then we could get the local funding capital money the lottery portion that we can use or need to use. And then we get in other funding capital. I think she's left out the local sales tax though. Oh local sales tax. Okay. Some what some local sales tax. Student And then we and then we try to prioritize all that. Mhm this is I don't know such thing Bob will be because uh I I'm thinking all our school uh old itself except uh So it's Prattsville Okay okay. Bethel All the rest are old. I know. Something So the the schools from East Rockingham they're old too. They are. So I'm saying that we need a lot of They're old units. Okay. And we we try to obviously prioritize things across the
013district and you know prioritizing things that is about where the needs are. And that's what we try to do. Any questions or thoughts? We didn't replace any chillers or boilers last year. We did. I think I want to make sure you I think they're controls on chillers. I see. I I see you marking things. >> Yeah well now I was just marking I was marking the like the big things the roofs and the chillers. >> about chillers but I think it talked about chiller controls. I I thought we replaced the whole thing. We well we there was a lot done with SR funding. Okay. But not all those things had like the controls. >> September so that's September But like like this this board voted to do uh for lottery funding to replace chillers at
014Asheville and Bethel. Okay. That was done we just completed those projects finally here in the last month and a half. Cuz the we replaced the chillers in late late part of the year this summer. And then they were recently just hooked up in the last month or so at the Asheville and Bethel. But you will see you will see on your on your uh on some of the some of the things that we're talking about you'll see uh the term controls after the chillers like Parker on number 25 Parker chiller and boiler controls. Those are the controls to manage the Any other questions about after this this will be your last Do you have a thin line to hear? This I propose to It's in line but we'll probably be doing that then what's the
015Okay. So If I may any other questions or comments or thoughts on all this? I just want to make sure you had it sort of the main difference here today is you I want to provide you with photos another chance to provide some feedback If the photos aren't clear enough we'll let y'all take that up with the department. >> [laughter] >> I think I thought we I think they did a good job. I was going to say I I thought they did a good job. >> I agree I think they did. Sure about that. So if I if I may you okay if I move on to the second part? Second part of all this local current expense and as I talked about before last time this board has had a priority of items in
016relation to trying to maintain local supplement for certified employees classified employees and increase that. Also discussions about bus drivers and coaches and and even leveling out some administrative pieces as well. Your your highest priority obviously depends upon certified classified staff. What what I have for you here in your booklet is the local current expense piece which is right there. And these these are the numbers from last year that were the last year. We are still working on the latest numbers and what that would be for the next year. I I don't want to give you I don't want to give you numbers that are not as accurate as can be. The other thing that we always try to keep in mind local current expense is the state state is obviously working with General Assembly and
017trying to >> [music] >> If if General Assembly votes uh passing potentially pass the state budget this year that either full budget sometimes it's a mini budget might take into account teacher raises and discussion about that also. So it's sometimes difficult to know exactly what that raise is going to be and then how that might in turn impact local supplements and how they So but I understand that this is a this has been a priority for you all the last two years. I would assume that will remain a priority Well I was having a lot of a lot of discussion yesterday in reference to teacher pay and percent of increases. And it looks like what's recommended here is in the ballpark of what I heard yesterday. But but this is not I I just want
018to repeat this for everybody this is this is last year's Mhm. numbers. And we we don't know what it might look like at this point. So there is there is some uncertainty with that. And then and then I also want to make sure that we we understand this whole second part that we're talking about with local current expense and then ultimately how that's going to interact with the third piece I'm going to talk about regarding some loss of funding and what that might mean for us as well. Okay. So if you all it all hopefully by the time we're done talking today I want to make sure everybody has a full understanding of what what we're talking about some of the some of the issues around I think what I need from you is to
019make sure that you are comfortable and I think everybody is you are comfortable just continuing down this road about these things and continue to put this as part of our discussion that we have and and recommendations moving forward. At least to at least to the point of making sure it's on the table and that we're talking about it and you're advocating for it. Yes. Yes I am. I am. At least these are the percentages that we're looking at increasing each one of these. I'll refine the numbers will change and I'll refine this over especially again but the specific items are the things that I Right percentages right. Any questions about that again and you can there'll be more time to talk about Now Chairman I'll move on to the next part. Yes sir. So third
020part of all this the revenue I talked about the last four meetings obviously with some reductions from the state and we're we're looking at some budget reductions and things we're trying to prioritize. As I talked about the last meeting we we think that equates to about 30 teaching positions which as I stated then and I will state it again uh we we believe no promises but we strongly believe that we can take care of that through attrition so that individual positions might be eliminated but people don't lose their job. Which we think is important. Uh and we're also continuing to look at other reductions across different areas where we can be more efficient we can look at maybe eliminating some other positions that again are positions not people as best we can. I can't make
021a promise for that but I want to stress that's our focus. And then obviously try to keep be more efficient how we deliver services across the district. It all kind of across departments. So uh we we're obviously not the only school district in the state of North Carolina having this conversation. Uh I think almost all school districts in North Carolina It's not I want to make sure that as we get and we move through this process I'll continue to keep you updated on what the specifics are but I wanted to get that out there before I did the last meeting and talked about it again today and make sure you're Questions or thoughts? May I say something Chairman? Um It would seem to me that we would have to raise hand reductions should which these
022that we would see in writing say for example if we are the mention which would be and what it would look like. And that's what we're working on cuz right now Okay okay you're working on that thing. Cuz it would seem to me um I'm thinking that we have to look at student attendance in each school and it might be that if we look at the school it might mean that we might not need school babysitters. Even the student population. Yeah. To me that's going to determine the facility that we would need. Well, I I will I will say we will certainly do whatever we want. I will say that we are already looking at different scenarios, some of which some of which involve sort of sharing staff across schools. And capacities and programs and
023different things. So, we're we're trying to examine every way to make this as effective and deliver the best instruction we can for everybody. I brought that up because uh I've looked at corporate extension, but they're not but they're not corporate extension. And that's what they are doing. They've done it right here in Edgecombe County. Well, in our conversations we we as we look at uh schools and services and numbers uh we're having the same conversations about how to deliver the best quality. It's just that point where sometimes people going to have to share some services and teachers and also you know, eventually look at look at the idea of what we have to do to make it all work. And and sometimes that that's going to mean as you all know you you all know
024this you know, that that that might mean it's not always business as usual. Right. You know, we're going to have to maybe do some things that are a little different. And and you have no way of knowing when your allocations are going to actually come in. Yeah, it's uh the the one the one thing and I'll correct me if I'm wrong, Patricia, as I say this but I I I pretty sure I know I'm right on this. Uh the uh you know, if you don't end up with a state budget Right. then it continues on Right. with the streams that are hanging about three and you're still being hanging about three. Um you know, so and sometimes the legislature's worked on uh even though they maybe didn't pass a state budget, they will pass a
025They're piecemealing piecemealing piecemealing. They're trying to do things. So, um It looks like they're going to piecemeal. It it's uh with the answers we just don't know. Right. And we will continue to work towards that towards what we can and what we know. But the way that you've got it set up is a plan. You really don't know what's going to happen, but at least you've got a plan in place trying to make sure you can cover. >> We're we're trying we're trying to plan contingencies for different things. And you all you all talked about that. So, but my my my my hope in having this discussion today one obviously get your feedback, two give you a little bit more time to think about things and then we'll keep we'll keep refining it. We've got
026a you know, great team working on it and and trying to make sure that you will need it. So, everybody's got to tighten their belts. And and we will again we'll be looking across departments and areas. I don't want I don't want anybody to be surprised and I've sent this message to principals and discussed it the implications. So, Well, we shared about before but we shared about elimination of positions eliminated. We'll talk about that. Yes. And some of that some of that involves where attrition happens. >> Sure. So, what what we try to do is look at look at the different schools Right. what we're trying to do in each school and then you know, might as an example someone might leave a position in school A and we might find that we might need
027to move that position to school B. A needs of the system. And and it might might be teaching a totally different subject. It's just the position. >> Are you? So, and uh I've already done a great job in in working through some of that and looking at our numbers and uh working with our team trying to do that. So, but it's complicated. And and I we also understand how this board feels about people in the community and then dedicating themselves to you know, someone you know, someone who's been with us and wants to stay in Edgecombe County and teach and we want to support them. So, they're doing a good job in the department of public schools. We need them. I think going back to your point, Dr. Wilson, you know, I think the conversation
028about anything that's going to support us financially to to do what we need to do should be on the table. Absolutely. Yes, sir. Any other questions from board members on so far that we've discussed? Ms. Robinson, anything you'd like to add or anything you think I left out? No, I think you covered it. And I also would would say not not a things on the table to talk about, but for us to be serve our students, but also be the most efficient we can be in doing so. All right. Okay. Hearing no questions on the topic that we already covered, we will move to item four. Speaking of capital uh here here's a request I wanted to get in to to look at uh requesting lottery funds for uh roof repair and replacement at Phillips
029Middle School. We're estimating about $400,000, but there'd also be some design fees in there that we need to account for and what that exact cost would be, but I did want to just sort of get it on the docket to get it approved. Of course, as you know, it has to go to the commissioners as well. Is that Is that like the flat roofs that Phillips had? Is that you're trying to get an A-frame with the flat roofs? We'll go with repair. I think I think we all prefer slanted roofs. Um but I think there's been a lot of as I've talked to some architects there's been some advancement on things. I still I still think that they prefer that, but there's there's advancements in technology with different things. But we're going to go with
030what the designers are saying what's best. We we talked to some contractors already and we've already talked to just trying to get an idea. And and hopefully it'll come in a little less cuz some of our some of our lottery projects have been coming in a little lower than than what we estimate. We try to estimate a little bit on the high end. So, if we get it on the docket and we approve it today does that mean this particular project is near the top of the list? I I believe it is. It's first. That was roof roofing is a priority. It it's leak it's raining in it. It leak it's raining in it. You got to fix the roof. You got to fix the ceiling and the lighting and the floor. And the wall.
031And and I I want to be And everything else is there. There's some work with this board that's done and given at the roof on the roof that fell off. That's what I was We're okay. We're okay, but we want to We're trying to be proactive here. Yeah. Okay. I must say that say what you want to say, what you want to say, but we need to hear it. We need to hear it all. Now, we're going to move forward with this. >> [clears throat] >> You have any question or anything something like that? Do we have enough students at Phillips to substantiate $400,000? When possibly at some point they would be going somewhere else. I don't But I don't know how far down the road that would that would be. I know what you're
032talking about. I mean, that would be $400,000 to put on a project, you know, which is nothing I know building a school. Oh my god. But then you would wait. I just Cuz here's what I'm saying. Uh here's what I'm thinking. I'm not saying anything. Um if we approve this for Phillips School and [snorts] we decide can these I I think this is what I want to hear. Can these funds be used somewhere else if we need to if we change our minds about putting the new roof on the site? You can. Will these funds be available to use in another project? Cuz if we vote on it like it's written would that not say that that's just the place that we could use that $400,000? I'm confused now, I think. Well, I'm I'm going
033to I'm going to get I'm going to take a I'm going to take a >> People have obligated it to Phillips. Mhm. Well, see see >> But you you could I think I I don't want to say this for sure. I could check on it. Okay. I think you could I think you could change if you decide to put it in another funding source. Okay. If everybody decided to do that. But But it would take the whole board to agree, right? Yeah. A majority of the I think so. to agree to put it in. >> And if you all want to pause this and table it, that's fine. No, I I don't want to do that because the lottery >> And and you're you're you're you're also not the end-all on all this because it's
034still a school commission. I got it. So, they got it. I think So, so in order for it to get to the commissioners, we need to approve. Cuz see >> If you want to, but it's I mean, if you don't table it, we can talk about it another time. You can give us some time. I think we need to go ahead and move this forward at Phillips. I I would agree. I think I think Phillips has got a point. But whether they're there 2 or 3 years, it's still going to need to get We will need to The roof is going to get worse. Yeah. And and instead of four, it's going to be six. Yeah. You got to get in the back. If it's already messed up. It's it's it's at a point. When
035you look down the road at the other things and all, but I This is a This is table now, I'd go ahead and The question is Let's go ahead with that. It is. All right. I need to hear a motion Madam Chair, I move >> of item 4A. Madam Chair, I make a motion for the approval of the submission of the distribution request public school building repair and renovation North Carolina Education Lottery application to support roof repair and replacement at Phillips Middle School. Second. >> This amount includes architectural design work for the project in the amount of $400,000. >> Okay. All right, second that. Okay, it has been moved and properly seconded that we will approve the approval of the submission and of the distribution request uh for public school building repair and renovation from
036our lottery application in the amount of $400,000. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. Opposed, same sign. The motion carries. Thank you very kindly. Ms. Lilly, will you take us into closed session. session, please. Madam Chair, I make a motion under the North Carolina Open Meeting Law Section 143-318.11A1A3 and A6 to go into closed session to consider personnel matters, to consult with the attorney to preserve attorney-client privileged information, and to prevent the disclosure of personnel records rendered confidential under General Statute 115C-319 through 321. Second. It has been moved and properly seconded to go into closed session. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. Opposed, same sign. The motion carries.
037Thank you very kindly and we will take 2-minute break. All right. We're going to go into closed session. Okay. All right. Excuse me. I think it would be very appropriate. I want to try and finish the meeting in an hour. Sometimes I can't hear I've done that. But sometimes they I want to hear the sound. That's what they would hear and when he's watching it online, so All right. We'll continue to try I wanted to do this. But he was thinking so I That was what I was I had been thinking. Yeah. That was the $300,000 that we were talking about. >> [music] [music] >> I make a motion to adjourn. Second. You can go to my place now if you want to. >> [laughter] >> You can go to my place now. I make
038a motion to adjourn. You all take care. That's not my favorite place. Okay. I need to hear a motion to adjourn. I make a motion to adjourn. Second. It has been moved and properly seconded that we will adjourn this meeting. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let me know by saying I.