Minutes - October 14, 2015
Classified Staff Advisory Council Minutes
October 14, 2015
Members present included: Penny Brown, CES; Carolyn Vanhoy, SES; Tina Mabe, EMHS; Jackie Jackson, EMS; Tremenia Wall, MLA; Donna Morris, Central Office; Robin Health, WMHS; Delores Mauldin, TES; Barbie Blake, MGES; Yvonne Dunn, GRES. Absent: Alicia Blalock, WMS and Kay Poole, PSES.
Dr. Ellis welcomed those in attendance and reviewed the purpose of the Certified Staff Advisory Council – to collect questions and share information with your school to keep the lines of communication open.
Budget Update
Dr. Ellis provided a budget update. He highlighted two major issues. First, the state was going to cut funds for teacher assistants. Funding was granted, however it must be used for teacher assistants only. Other districts, in the past have traded this funding to hire more teachers for smaller class sizes. MCS has never used TA funds to do so. Second, pay – raise was wanted. The legislature purposed a 2% increase, but approved a $750 bonus. Funds for the bonus will be received in December, but it is unclear when it will be released in December. If it’s received before pay day in December it will be given in December, if not, it will be January.
Another major concern was a bill that would give additional funds to Charter Schools. It would have cost MCS $260,000. The bill got tabled, but will be one of the things discussed first next year.
Lastly, Dr. Ellis provided an update on the MCS fund balance. MCS is decreasing the amount spent each year and working towards spending none. If the above mention bill passes it would be a devastating hit to our fund balance.
Legislative Update
Two things to highlight. First, low performing school bill was passed this year. A low performing school is identified as a school that makes a D or F which also meets or does not meet growth. MCS had two schools, MGES and WMS, which were identified as low performing schools. These schools are working on a plan to improve performance. Our region had four school districts that are low performing districts, and led the state. MCS was not one of those. We are outperforming our peers in this area.
Second, the formula to calculate school grades is based on 20% growth and 80% proficiency. We have fought for 50% growth and 50% proficiency, but it was not passed, and we will continue to fight for that. The state did leave the A to F scale to 15 points. They want three years of data on these standards. Our hope is after those three years we will see a 10 point grading scale with 50% growth and 50% proficiency to determine the school grades.
Facilities Update
County Commissioners passed a 5% sales tax increase. The increase will benefit schools and all will go to educational facilities. One cent is to take care of existing maintenance concerns and facilities. A 30 year plan has been developed to show how the funds will be used to sustain facilities. Four cents will be used to fund an early college. This project will be a partnership with MCC, MCS, and the county with the purpose of focusing on the CTE kids who want to go into skilled trade’s positions, STEM, and college transfer. It will be a 5 year program and students will graduate with a diploma and associates degree. The cost of the project is around $10 million. The second priority for these funds is the wing at EMS. 3 year window for that project. By 2019 there will be a strong need for this. In 2021 we will discuss what to do with the high schools – one versus two.
Questions
Mentioned busing kids for redistricting of high schools. Will this still happen? We are hoping this will be taken care of by the Early College. EMHS now has large trailers to help with issue of overcrowding at this time.
What is MCS doing or saying to market the good they do to combat the good the Charter Schools are marketing? We are high lighting the career and college promise program and the CTE programs as well as other positive things happening in our schools. Dr. Ellis challenged teachers to be out talking about the good our schools are doing to let everyone know, “we are the best option.” It will take positive talk from within as well as time to change the public’s perception.
What is the big incentive for the Charter Schools? Parents see it as a publicly funded private school – the prestige. The public has the perception that they are better than a public school.
Why do public schools have to give charter schools money? Parents are tax payers and when a student goes to a charter school money has to be given from the state for that child.
Is there a reward system that can be implemented for assistants? If a system is going to be implemented then principals needs to implement it. The plan in place for teachers at this time is based on the goals established in the strategic plan. We value our teacher assistants and have done a lot to ensure we are able to keep them.
Are we doing away with NO days next year? No, the calendar committee wanted to keep them.
What is the percentage of kids we lost to Charter Schools? MCS lost 57 kids.
How do you feel about a staff person’s child going to a Charter School? I disagree with it, but have no control over it.
Another frustration is a bill for parents to apply for funds to help send their child to a private school. Funds continue to increase to support this.
Expectation is to share this information with other classified employers. Let them know when meetings are coming up and encourage them to submit any questions that need to be answered.