Quorum: Vaughan, Cox, Chism. Messerly will arrive late due to her daughter’s Collierville High Lacrosse game.
Sparse attendance from the public.
Moved budget discussion to end of agenda to allow Mrs Messerly to join.
March financial statements discussion. Forecast for end of the year is looking positive. Nutrition is operating right at break-even and may end just in the black. This is still from initial start up cost.
Recommendation for Inclement Weather Day – one snow day: recommendation will be to not make up the school day.
Whistleblower protection policy – was previously included. Updated based on auditor recommendation.
Non-resident student attendance policy – update to strike out-of-state attendees. Also removed some redundant language to limit time frame to open enrollment window only, and streamlined the overall language.
Policy on Transfers within the district – streamlined the language and removed redundancies.
Note: coming year new transfers have been severely restricted. Only siblings being considered. Only open schools for transfers this coming year were Bailey Station, Sycamore and Tara Oaks, and have been limited to high priority candidates only in order to ensure optimal attendance. Letters on acceptance/rejection of transfer requests going out this week. Have to remember that the attendance zone has to be honored first. Note: this applies to NEW applications only. Existing students should be able to stay.
(Mrs Messerly joined the meeting)
Policy on medications – streamlining language; now requiring doctor signature.
Update on 5-year capital improvement plan. Shows completed projects from last 2 years, and updated needs for next few years. Includes the CHS build and lots of smaller items. There may be some Shelby County Commission funding (allocation based on student attendance).
Crosswind Elementary Asphalt Resurfacing – will be paid from remainder of funds allocated by county last year (most went to roof at CHS).
Budget presentation notes and highlights:
- Document subject to some change
- Received BEP allocation estimate on 4/22 – numbers still shifting some
- This budget is for year THREE of Collierville Schools
- Original request was to have three years to get to sustainability
- This budget invests heavily in technology
- Governor’s budget improvements are commendable, but should be noted that the funding was aimed at equalizing salaries across the state, and thus Collierville Schools does not see increased funding from this. Collierville Schools’ teacher pay is top 5 in the state. Collierville Schools’ benefits are higher than state averages.
- Collierville Schools salaries and benefits are competitive against the state and across the county.
- BEP funding this year reduces the Cost Differential Funding. This was intended to adjust funding where cost of operations is higher in urban areas. That factor was funded at 50% in the past, and was cut to 25% this year, which is costing Collierville Schools in the range of $1M for the coming school year.
- Collierville is also maintaining higher levels of payments for teacher degrees, etc. The state no longer includes that.
- Growth in enrollment lags behind funding increases for enrollment.
- This budget will keep teacher – student ratios low
- Discussions with town on some additional items to be funded.
- This budget has small improvements in support of extras at the schools: magazine subscriptions, classroom instruments, etc.
- General fund: 71,471,852.
- Projected enrollment: 8,190 (significant growth from first year estimate of 7,500). 125 students increase over last year (conservative estimate)
- 6 additional classroom positions in regular ed, 4 additions in special education
- Step increases, 3rd personal day at step 18 and over. 2% bonus for those in step 18/above. Note: step increase equals $500,000 for the year. This is an average of 2% salary increase.
- 2 additional ESL (state lowered ESL student/teacher ratio) and 2 additional APEX teachers
- Also adding non-teacher personnel across the system
- Note: State student/teacher ratio 1:30 in grades 7-12. Collierville is at 1:25. Municipal schools are striving to have this consistent.
- Alternative Education moving back in-house at CHS.
- Technology: $1.1M for infrastructure; $1.55M for regular instruction equipment. Must keep in mind the support cost for additional technology.
- Regular capital outlay items: portables at CHS (“learning cottages”). There will be 6 pods (2 classrooms in one building, including a restroom). The current ones will be removed, and these will be placed in that area.
Special revenue budgets: IDEA, Nutrition, Grants, etc. Stable over previous year.
Budget revision resolution for next meeting to allocate the county capital funding ‘left over’ from roofing allocation to the Crosswind parking lot.
Superintendent Update:
- TNReady Assessment to start next week. Materials supposed to be received by 4/27, but it is doubtful the materials not yet received will be there (tomorrow).
- May 2 week is teacher appreciation week. Teachers cannot be appreciated enough – but we’ll do something
- Ground Breaking 10 am
- May 5 Hawaiian themed trivia night from Collierville Education Foundation. Mr A has 16 seats up for grabs.
- Central Office will vacate to Central Church, some will be at Sycamore, some will be at CHS/CES. This will be so the old school building can be prepared for tear down.
Vice chair report: Everyone is under busy schedules, lots of moving parts. TNReady disruptions pushed down by the state are shameful and a challenge to keep adjusting to on a week-to-week basis. Teachers and parents are frustrated and tired. This is going to have an unknown impact on the test results. Need to watch Nashville and send only qualified representatives.
Meeting adjourned.