BOC Minutes April 15 2013
April 15, 2013
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APRIL 15, 2013
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Jimmy B. Clayton Heidi York, County Manager
Kyle W. Puryear - ABSENT
B. Ray Jeffers Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Frances P. Blalock
David Newell, Sr.
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
recessed session on Monday, April 15, 2013 at 6:00 pm for the purpose of a special joint
meeting with the Board of Education in the County Auditorium.
In attendance representing Person County was Chairman Clayton, Vice Chairman
Jeffers and Commissioners Blalock and Newell. County Manager, Heidi York, Finance
Director, Amy Wehrenberg and Clerk to the Board, Brenda Reaves were also present.
Commissioner Puryear was absent.
In attendance representing the Board of Education was School Board Chairman,
Gordon Powell, Vice-Chairman Margaret Bradsher and members Jimmy Wilkins, Freda
Tillman and Jennifer Kafer. Superintendent, Dr. Larry Cartner, Executive Assistant and
Clerk, Teresa Shotwell, Finance Officer, Kim McVey, and Executive Director for Human
Resources & Operations, Dan Holloman were also present.
Chairman Clayton called the meeting to order, welcomed the group and led the
group in a moment of silence and prayer for those affected by the Boston bombings.
OVERVIEW OF THE PERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS’ BUDGET REQUEST:
School Board Chairman Powell stated the two governing boards have very
different charges but the common ground centers around the county’s children which
provide an opportunity to discuss mutual goals and needs within the school system.
Dr. Larry Cartner, Superintendent for Person County Schools stated the Board of
Education’s priorities are 1) school safety and will support the Sheriff’s request for
additional School Resource Officers (SROs), 2) increase employee supplements as no
increase has been given since 2006 and approximately $1,000,000 in reductions have
been made in the local budget prior to current draft.
Dr. Cartner stated 2013-2014 budget considerations included a 5% decrease in
personnel due to the federal sequestration, a loss of $276,000 in state allotment and a
request of local funding to increase by 4.5%. Dr. Cartner based the funding levels on an
ADM of 4,739 students noting a possible discretionary reversion may be required.
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Dr. Cartner noted the charter school growth included eleven new schools with one
of these a virtual in Durham County, two new schools in Orange County and two new
schools in Granville. Dr. Cartner reminded the Board of Commissioners that the per
pupil allotment follows the Person County student to the charter school that is attended
whether in or out of the county.
Dr. Cartner, Finance Officer, Kim McVey, and Executive Director for Human
Resources & Operations, Dan Holloman presented the Board of Commissioners with the
Schools’ 2013-2014 $9,658,310 budget request which represented a 4.5% or $415,966
increase over the current fiscal year funding level. The proposed increase was noted to
be used in the following areas:
Personnel +195,864 Projected benefit increases, overtime for
teacher assistants plus two additional
technology positions
Instruction + 45,000 Common Core initiative supplies
Technology + 19,500 1:1 initiative hardware/software
Operations +46,294
+99,600
Projected increases in worker’s comp,
unemployment & property/bond insurance
and public utilities
Projected increase in charter school
payments
Maintenance + 5,500 Projected increase with utilities
Custodial + 4,108 Projected increase with contract supplies
NC Wise +100 Workshops
The budget request did not include the certified and non-certified supplement
increase, the additional SROs or the $1,001,900 for all capital and lottery projects.
Vice Chairman Jeffers asked Ms. McVey the balance of the schools’ fund
balance. Ms. McVey reported the undesignated portion of the Fund Balance is at
$791,000 as per their June 12, 2012 audit representing approximately 7-8% of their
budget. County Manager, Heidi York commented that school districts across the state
will typically retain up to 10% in their fund balance. Ms. York and Ms. McVey
confirmed all monies in the schools’ fund balance represent local funding. Dr. Cartner
added that teacher’s laptops will be replaced using a fund balance allocation split
between this year and next year.
Commissioner Newell questioned the charter school settlement in FY2011-2012
which depleted $800,000 from the schools’ fund balance. School Board Chairman
Powell stated the $800,000 appropriation from fund balance was a result of the Sugar
Creek legal settlement and the annual allotment totaled $2,286,543. School Board
Chairman Powell noted an unsettled amount remains with the legal case.
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School Board Member Kafer stated the $99,600 in additional charter school
payments reflected 71 students at a $1,400 per pupil rate.
Dr. Cartner and School Board Chairman Powell estimated 1,000 Person County
students currently attend Roxboro Community School and Bethel Hill Charter School
with 25 or less attending charter schools outside of Person County.
Commissioner Newell requested the School Board and staff provide a copy of the
Central Office budget that was not included in the budget presentation. Dr. Cartner stated
he would send along the requested data and told the group that local funding of the
Central Office budget included two director positions, clerical positions, part of the
Superintendent salary and maintenance positions.
Vice Chairman Jeffers asked why fund balance was not used for capital needs.
School Board Member Wilkins stated they decided not to use fund balance so to retain at
least one month of operating.
Vice Chairman Jeffers asked why the proposed supplement was not included in
the budget request. School Board Member Wilkins stated the budget request represented
what was a necessity to run the schools noting it would be wonderful if the Board of
Commissioners would fund an increase for the school employees. School Board
Chairman Powell added the supplement increase for certified employees and a first-time
supplement for non-certified employees was requested as a way to retain good employees
in Person County. Mr. Holloman commented the average turnover at Person County
Schools is at approximately 17% mostly due to retirements noting some teachers will be
enticed to leave for a higher supplement in another county. Mr. Holloman stated the
average teacher salary package for 0-5 years is approximately $38,000.
Commissioner Blalock asked if all furniture had been removed from the old
Helena site noting there was furniture needs at Northern Middle School. Dr. Cartner
stated all usable furniture had been removed from the old Helena site.
Mr. Holloman stated no school buses were due to be replaced however; the capital
needs list has two aging activity buses that have many miles for replacement.
April 15, 2013
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OVERVIEW OF CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDING:
County Manager Heidi York gave the group an overview of the Person County
Capital Improvement Plan 2014-2018 that will be before the Board of Commissioners for
adoption at their April 29, 2013 meeting. In particular, Ms. York gave the group an
updated of the status of ongoing projects for FY2013 for the Public Schools as follows:
• Exterior wall waterproofing at PHS ($250,000) – The waterproofing is 10%
complete and will be finished during the summer of 2013.
• Paving at Person High and Southern Middle ($150,000) – Expected
completion is summer of 2013.
• North End Elementary roofing ($577,646) – Bids will be received in April
2013.
• Replacement of cooling tower at Person High ($60,000) – Bids have been
received and are higher than expected.
• Paving tracks at Person High and Southern Middle School ($200,000) –
Expected completion is summer of 2013.
• Southern Middle and Person High School roofing ($3,082,538) – Southern
Middle School roofing is over 50% complete and should be completed by May
2013. Person High School roofing has not started, but is expected to be complete
in fall of 2013. The re-roofing costs for these two schools were funded with loan
proceeds, and include a 100% federal interest credit through an approved
Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB).
Ms. York presented to the group the CIP FY2014-2018 for the schools:
April 15, 2013
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April 15, 2013
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Ms. York illustrated the Recommended CIP FY2014-2018 by function as
below:
Education – Schools 41.2%
General Government 29.1%
Culture & Recreation 19.8%
Transportation (Airport) 4.7%
Education – PCC 4.3%
Public Safety 0.7%
Economic Development 0.2%
Total 100%
April 15, 2013
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Ms. York announced to the group that a potential Golden Leaf grant to help fund
the school’s laptop program in the amount of $200,000 looked promising.
Ms. York stated she was recommending set aside funds in the budget in the
amount of $14,000 to develop a grant program through which schools could earn
additional resources by increasing recycling.
Vice Chairman Jeffers asked if the future lottery funds could be used for school
debt. Dr. Cartner stated lottery funds are requested as a part of the budget package under
2013-20014 Capital Requests at $305,000.
Ms. York confirmed the Person County School’s request for school security
equipment in the amount of $99,122 was included in next year’s CIP to be fully funded
and available in July based on Board approval.
The group discussed the request for placing additional SROs in the schools to
which Sheriff Dewey Jones made comments. Ms. York stated the additional SRO
positions are not in the schools’ request as the positions would be added to the Sheriff’s
personnel budget. Ms. York added the schools are currently funding ten months’ salary
and benefits for two of the six SROs. Sheriff Jones stated there is one SRO at each of the
middle schools and three at Person High School and a DARE/GREAT officer dedicated
to programming at all the elementary schools. Sheriff Jones stated he would need eight
additional officers to place one at each school in the district noting if four additional
officers were dedicated, then each would split time between two schools. Sheriff Jones
explained the specialized training required for a SRO to interact with school personnel
and students requiring a seasoned officer.
Commissioner Blalock stated consideration that issues may arise on the school
bus; School Board Vice Chairman Bradsher stated any large group activity at school or
the community could be at risk of an emergency situation.
School Board Chairman Powell suggested a Task Force, consisting of all involved
from law enforcement to school personnel, be created to prepare for a potential
emergency situation. Sheriff Jones stated the Local Emergency Planning Committee
(LEPC) has been revamped to plan for such situations noting group training would be of
benefit to all county partners. Ms. York stated she would forward a meeting schedule to
the School Board Chairman.
Commissioner Blalock inquired if the school facilities had opportunities for
additional revenue for other related activities. School Board Vice Chairman Bradsher
stated the facilities are being used all seasons for school related activities.
April 15, 2013
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Dr. Cartner told the group the Alternative School construction is 70% complete
with the move planned during the summer. Dr. Cartner noted the Alternative School has
one director position, four teachers and two assistants on staff and serves an average of
30 to 50 students daily with a capacity of 80 students.
RECESS:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Jeffers, and carried 4-0 to recess the
meeting at 7:53 p.m. until April 29, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. for a Community Conversations
Meeting to be held at the Bushy Fork Grange Hall located at 7854 Burlington Road,
Hurdle Mills.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Jimmy B. Clayton
Clerk to the Board Chairman