Summary of the April 11, 2019 Work Session of the Collierville School Board.

Absent: Mr Vaughan, Mr Hansen and Mrs Chism. No quorum needed since there are no votes for decisions.

Special Recognition for West Collierville Middle: presentation on the visual arts and 6th grade chorus performance.

Special presentation by Chef Ulysse Charles – Future Chef competition. Received 165 recipes in the competition (45 from Bailey Station Elementary). Selected one chef from each elementary school and BSE’s Makayla Young won for Collierville, and learned in the meeting that she won the regional competition. Her recipe will be featured in the CHS cafeteria in the near future, and she will be competing at the next level.

Special presentation by the Collierville Schools Vanguard Team. This is a team of teachers who lead the use of technology in the schools. Teachers rotate through the program, as member in the first year, and as coach the second year.

Review of 2019-2020 proposed budget. In the introduction of the budget, Mr Aitken expressed his displeasure with the developments in Nashville related to school vouchers. It is insulting how public education is being described by paid corporate lobbyists. Budget Highlights:

  • Each school principal has been involved in the overall budget request process.
  • Challenges around increased employer contribution for retirement, health insurance costs, transportation services contract increase due to growing enrollment and start time changes, the CHS grounds upkeep, staffing levels above BEP funding levels, ongoing dedication to the digital initiative: equipment and all the support it requires, discontinuation of most shared services among the municipal schools and uncertainty of the Governor’s budget.
  • General Funds Budget estimate: 89,650,792. BEP (state funding): 45,972,923. County (property taxes): 38,700,162. Collierville: 2,571,884 (equal to 0.5% of property tax revenues, but funded through sales tax).
  • 9214 student enrollment expected, 242 increase over 2018-2019. Funding level lags enrollment.
  • Teacher-student ratios; Collierville Schools staying below state mandated ratios for planning.
  • State BEP funding levels are at 70% of a minimal pay scale per allocated teacher and staff member. Collierville Schools employs significantly more staff than the state allows for to support school administration, teachers and student health.
  • Collierville Schools employs 481 regular education teachers @ average of 53,574. BEP funds 362@33k. This is a funding shortfall of $almost $14M. This does not include the cost (approx $11M) for benefits, substitute expenses, supplements/stipends, teacher assistants, etc.
  • Long list of additional costs in general fund that are not covered in the BEP funding formula.
  • $525000 annual SCS payment – year 6 of 12.
  • New positions for Payroll Specialist, a Business Information Analyst, benefits specialist, which replaces the shared services previously used for those functions
  • Bringing substitutes back in-house next school year.
  • $2.2M in utilities, including MLGW, Collierville water/sewer/waste.
  • Transportation is the only area that will maintain substantial shared services. $3.5M for Durham ($2.8M in original 2018-2019 budget).
  • Some increased technology staff.
  • Apple lease will be $2.7M next year.
  • Step raises (~2%) for teachers
  • 2% Cost of Living Adjustment increase for most staffing (at cost of $747,774). Note: while state will claim ’4% increase for teachers’ that is calculated at the same $33,000 per teacher rate the state uses.
  • Once BEP funding is determined and finalized at the end of the legislative session we will know if there are any opportunities for funding of other items.

Special funds: Nutrition $2.8M; Federal: $4.7M.

Also important to note: Town of Collierville pays for grounds maintenance at all schools except CHS, School Resource Officers, and other items above the tax-based funding.

Business Items:

  • March Financial Statement – no questions
  • Apple Lease – placeholder for updated leases to reflect the equipment refreshes and ongoing equipment leases – details available in 2 weeks at the business meeting
  • Crosswind Elementary HVAC equipment installation (equipment was approved last month) $83k
  • Collierville Elementary HVAC equipment replacement will have bids at next business meeting (bids being opened in one week). Replacing the Boiler/Chiller central unit and using rooftop units as new equipment. This will be a major overhaul, including demolition, roof work, duct work, etc. Projected to take all summer.
  • Memorandum of Understanding between Collierville Schools and Shelby County Department of Children’s Services. Agreement is replacing similar agreement at each municipal school around detecting and reporting child abuse, etc

Superintendent Update:

  • TNReady Testing starts Monday 4/15
  • This will be new at CHS (network dependent)
  • Collierville Schools and its personnel and equipment are prepared
  • Legislative issues around vouchers and charter schools. Mr A recommends the public to do their own homework to investigate and listen to the testimony about public education. Feels public education is under the gun and will see erosion of funding going to private sector, which is not subject to most of the standards and regulations that very tightly control public schools. Nashville is where funding is determined, and where any additional $ will have to come from.
  • Remember how far Collierville Schools has come. And how blessed this district and its students and staff are.

No chairman update today.

Meeting adjourned.