Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-03-2021 Fairhope Public Schools Commission Meeting MinutesFairhope Public Schools Commission March 3, 2021 Members p resent: Robert Brown, Amy Fo ley, Paul Hannon, Danielle Mashburn- Myrick, Carrie McLemore, Hill Robinson, Miranda Schrubbe, Cornelius Woods Members absent: Robin Coleman Principals present: Jon Cardwell, FHS; Julie Pierce, FWE; Patrice Wolfe, JLN Guests: John Wilson, Baldwin County Board of Education Chief School Financial Officer; Patsy Chastang, Baldwin County Board of Education Accounting Supervisor; Paula White, FEEF Meeting was called to order by Carrie McLemore and minutes from the January 6 th meeting were approved. (There was no meeting in February.) Updates from principals included news from Julie Pierce that Fairhope West Elementary was awarded STEAM certification recently, and reading proficiency scores are trending in a positive direction in spite of the challenges of the pandemic and other factors. Patrice Wolfe shared that Newton School received funding from FEEF for items that will enhance efforts there to have spaces dedicated to STEAM education, and that the funding received for academic coaching has been very beneficial. She a lso reported that t he social worker position that was delayed will be filled soon, an d because of the delay, she will plan to keep that new hire in place during the summer literacy program that will be serving approximately 100 K-3 students from each of the elementary schools. Jon Cardwell reported that progress is being seen in ACT preparation, and the Crisis Alert system has been phenomenal in speeding response to emergencies on campus. John Wilson provided an overview of the timeline for funding requests and approvals for the next budget cycle. (See attached timeline) • • • • • Planning for the new round of funding begins now, including evaluation of items funded in current schoo l year. The first estimate of revenues for next cycle will be available in the spring, and is expected to be close to what was generated in the current cycle. Funding requests will be reviewed by the superintendent's representative in late spring for countywide duplications, and then submitted to the commission for consideration. Requests are to be discussed and approved by the commission in late spring/ early summer, then given official approval at the next meeting of the Board of Education. Additions and changes can be made at any time, since amendments to the county budget are submitted to the school board in January and June each year. Funds are advanced by the county and transferred to each school in late summer. Unspent monies from the current cycle will carry over; John Wilson will provide a report of those funds by school, though final numbers will not be available until FY21 is closed out. The budget for the next cycle will be determined by the estimate of anticipated property tax revenues combined with monies carried over from the current cycle. Costs for personnel that will remain in place from current cycle and any reserve funding the commission decides to put aside will be subtracted from the total budgeted funds to arrive at the amount of funding available for the next school year. It was noted that the 3-mill portion of revenues generated through the Probate Office (for example, car tag fees) amounted to approximately $180,000, and had not been included in the budget for FY21 because it is variable and difficult to estimate. Discussion followed regarding the possibility of this additional money being designated for the reserve account and the need to revisit the formula that was approved in September for funding the reserve account. (That formula called for 5% of 3-mill proceeds each year and the entirety of the 4 remaining annual payments from the City of Fairhope to be designated for reserves.) Further discussion about funding of the reserve account will be on the April meeting agenda. Meeting was adjourned at 5:25. The next meeting of the FPSC will be on April 7th at 4:30 p.m. at the Nix Center. Respectfully submitted by Miranda Schrubbe 3 Mill Timeline March and April April/May timeframe, Principals will submit 31 represents the best we usually receive request to dii time for evaluating our first abstract from Superintendent's tal existing funding the County Revenue representative to re 1 requests and Commission. That review and ensure no re 1 planning for next allows us to further countywide int year using last define the 3 mil duplications. Then ne year as a baseline. district budget for the requests are submitted fol to committe ap Evaluate personnel, programs, carryover, and needs for next school year. Carry Over Funds + Latest Abstract = Budget for ye Budget for year -Personnel Expenses (Salaries anc Benefits)= Available Funds. Available Funds -Committee Reserve= New Fund next School year.