Published: January 06, 2009 06:50 pm      

School board preparing for next budget process

Only seven days into the new year, and the Cumberland County Board of Education is already discussing ideas for its next budget.

Recently, Director of Schools Aarona VanWinkle informed the board of items that will most likely need to be addressed in the budgetary process for the 2009-'10 fiscal year. She mainly focused on school buses and step raises for personnel, which were among the items affected by the lack of funding.

"I wanted you to know what we're working on right now," VanWinkle said.

Regarding the transportation budget, VanWinkle recommended that the board purchase at least four general buses for the next school year to replace those that have been removed.

According to the DOS, state law mandates that buses be removed from the school system after 15 years of service, regardless of their condition. At the end of the 2007-'08 school year, four buses were pulled from the line, she noted.

"The board is aware that the replacement buses were cut from this year's budget," said VanWinkle, adding how the impact on the transportation schedule has been minimal thanks to careful management and cooperation.

"At the end of this school year, four more buses must be removed from service. It's important that replacement buses are purchased before school starts in 2009," she added.

The director asked the board to petition the county budget committee to consider purchasing the four buses as well as one for students with special needs. She reminded them of the idea Commissioner Lynn Tollett proposed to the county budget committee during the last budgeting process — the purchase of large capital expenditures such as buses be reevaluated in January and purchased through a note.

"What I'm concerned about is getting our request to the county commission asking them to put our buses on the calendar for voting," she stated.

Mary Smith, 7th District representative, made a motion to send a letter to the county commission about purchasing five purchases. Richard Janeway, 2nd District representative, supported it.

The motion passed 8-0. Brian Houston, 1st District representative, was not present at the time the vote was taken.

In addition, VanWinkle pointed out that the the board will also have to consider implementing a pay scale for the support staff.

Amidst the budget cuts in August, the BOE chose to freeze the support staff's pay and provide them with a one-percent bonus in order to save positions.

"You approved a new pay scale, but did not implement it," said VanWinkle.

She continued, "We're looking at the (old and new) pay scales and how much our budget will have to increase to follow either one of these pay scales. Remember we did not give a step raise this past year for our support staff, but we did give them a one-percent raise."

According to the DOS, a one-step increase with the old pay scale will cost the school system approximately $131,709, while a two-step increase will be at $266,699.66.

"On the pay scale you adopted last year, we will be paying them for increasing one step at $420,817.28 and two steps at $469,548.93," she said.

She pointed out that the board will also have to take into consideration the Basic Education Program salary schedule for licensed instructional personnel.

"By law, we do have to follow these step raises and you can see that one step increase will cost us right at $179,242.95…That's how much that we will have to pay…for an increase in salary for next year's certified staff," explained VanWinkle.

"You might let them know that it's for salaries only. It does not include benefits," said business manager Cindy Randol.

No action was taken by the board on this matter.