Minutes - January 16, 2019
Classified Staff Advisory Minutes
January 16, 2019
The following members were present: Penny Brown, CES; Kristy Buchman, MCEC; Tina Woody, TES; Shenelle Green, MGES; Yvonne Dunn, GRES; Jackie Jackson, EMS; Beth Hall, SES; Maria Johnson, MLA; and Cindy Williams, WMS. Members absent included: Martha Lalor, PSES; Robin Heath, WMHS; and Toni Kellis, EMHS.
Dr. Ellis welcomed all in attendance.
Budget Update
Dr. Ellis feels good about where we are right now with the budget. Unlike last year, the district will not have to spend much more than $100,000 out of the fund balance this year. The district was caught off guard this year with the number of students lost to the charter schools, particularly the new K-4 school at Uwharrie, which was a larger hit than anticipated. With the opening of a new charter school in Biscoe in the fall the district is trying to financially prepare for the potential loss of students as we prepare next year’s budget. Legislation will also go into effect next year that will lower class size again. Based upon are numbers the district will have to hire 3 new teachers to meet the new guidelines. However, if we were to lose 20 to 25 kids to the charter schools we would only have to hire 1 teacher. Once again, Dr. Ellis assured everyone that if the district is confident in the fact that if you want a job and are doing a good and want to be here, you will have a job. Moves might have to be made, but you will still have a job. Currently we have around 4000 students including Pre-K.
Construction Update
The CTE center is starting to take shape. Walls are visible and the second story has been added. The district had hoped the building would be open and ready for students by August, however it is behind schedule. The project is roughly around 9 weeks behind schedule. We are working with MCC to develop a plan for opening in the event the building is not ready in August. Hopefully in the next 3 to 4 weeks the building will be under roof and crews are able to make up time. The new high school is also progressing nicely. It is not behind schedule. It must be completed by February 27thto ensure the county does not pay additional interest.
Merger Update
We have two committees working parallel, to help with the merger. The first committee is looking at ways to merge the student bodies. The other is looking at merging the athletics for next year. The last time the county did this was in the late 1950s. So, this is a learning process. Dr. Ellis asked the committee to think of ways and make suggestions for activities that could be done to bring the staffs and the students together. The following suggestions were made:
Social events
Shared faculty meetings or events with food
Parent nights
For students – social events, dances
The community will always have some who disagree but we believe that if we can have the athletes working together they will be very helpful in leading the merger. This committee is developing a plan for the next year. For the next year, both schools will still have a separate homecoming and East will still have Miss Aquila and West Miss Warrior, etc.
Safety Update
The district has a Safety Advisory Council, comprised of individuals from each of the towns’ police departments along with the sheriff and other local law enforcement representatives, that is meeting. We have worked extensively on a plan to implement – Run, Hide, Fight. We want the focus of this plan to be common sense. If you don’t feel safe – HIDE! If you feel confident and know that you can get you and the kids to safety, then RUN! The district is also working to commission a study with an architect for safety updates for each of our schools. We want to focus on a store front or security vestibule to ensure that when someone walks in the door they are forced to go through the office. The project is estimated to cost $3.5 million. The district is going to push for a K-12 bond referendum to fund this project.
Questions
- Are we going to have jobs at the new school, i.e. go into our current position? The Montgomery Central Principal will make those determinations.
- Do we have to apply for our jobs at the new school? Yes
- If our position is not open, will there be other positions for us in the school system? Yes. There will not be loss of pay.
- If number 3 is the situation, will we be placed or given the opportunity to choose or what? Don’t know, it will depend on what is open. Or, if a position has to be created.
- Is there someone at each school that is responsible for staying at the school until all of the buses return? Yes, that should be the principal, or someone the principal designates.
East Middle School expressed they like Saturday school!
- Is there still a possibility of doing away with uniforms? It is going to be addressed at the February or March School Board meeting. The principals have been asked to take it to their school improvement teams for feedback.
- There is a concern about paper products being used in the cafeterias. Is there a possibility of using the old trey that have to be washed in order to be more mindful of our environment? Ellis will look into this and talk with child nutrition.
- Retirement – Is there an understanding that you cannot come back to school to visit for 6 months once you retire? Once you retire, you have to sit out for 6 months. You can visit the school. It can get complicated depending on what you’re doing during that visit. If you come back to visit and are volunteering and not getting paid it can be perceived as an issue. But, there is nothing that states you cannot come to have lunch with colleagues.
- Could there be a limit to the snacks available for students to purchase during lunch? Dr. Ellis will look into the particular rules.