York SB Talks Compensation, Transportation

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, February 01, 2012

The York County School Board met Tuesday for its fourth work session in as many weeks to discuss possible budget reductions for the upcoming fiscal year.

Since learning the school division faces a $9 million budget gap, the school board requested to review the budget section by section. Superintendent Eric Williams shared a preliminary list of possible reductions and eliminations earlier this month, based on the idea the Board of Supervisors would approve an increase in local funding of $4.5 million (the school board would need to request that amount in its budget).

 

Since that first meeting, he has presented additional suggestions of ways the school division could reduce its budget if the supervisors deny the additional funding request. On Tuesday, Williams and his staff reviewed ways the board could save by making changes to staff compensation, pupil transportation and AP exams.

 

The staff also presented information on the feasibility of reducing the school year to 160 days or switching from full- to half-day Kindergarten. Chief of Operations Carl James spoke with Gloucester County Schools about its 160-day school year, adopted in fall 2011, and found that school division hasn’t yet calculated its savings. Chief Academic Officer Stephanie Guy expressed concerns on the effects on instruction if the board explored either reducing the school year or the Kindergarten day. The board members swiftly agreed, saying both options were off the table.

Staff Compensation

York County Schools’ instructional employees have not received step increases in three years. Williams plans to include a step increase for all eligible staff in his proposed budget, to be released in mid-February. No employees, including instructional and operations employees, have received compensation increases.

A step increase would cost $1.2 million, but would be offset by $722,000 that would have gone to a one-time payment. The school division requested level funding from the Board of Supervisors last year, including money for a step increase, but was sent back to the drawing board when supervisors disapproved of giving pay increases to school division employees when none were given to county employees.

The school division’s step compensation plan has 30 steps. The plan is intended to move employees up one step each year of service. Sometimes the step increase results in a pay increase, but sometimes it doesn’t. A step pay increase differs from an across-the-board salary increase, which would raise the salary scales equally for each position in every pay grade.

If the Board of Supervisors chooses not to allocate the additional $4.5 million, the division will not be able to offer step increases, Williams said Tuesday.

In addition, the division’s health insurance costs will increase $2.1 million, which will entail changes to benefit levels. Williams said that if they cannot give a step increase, he recommends not passing increased health care costs on to employees. About 70 percent of York County Schools’ employees are enrolled in its health care plan, according to Chief Financial Officer Dennis Jarrett. The division also plans to eliminate tuition reimbursement for employees.

Pupil Transportation

The school division is required to offer transportation for students, but can make reductions to the number of bus runs offered.

Currently, the division’s buses have 272 regular runs to and from school; 15 runs that transport students to special programs, like New Horizons or the School of the Arts; 27 runs for special education students; 47 mid-day shuttles; and three runs for displaced students who are considered homeless (which are mandatory).

If the division does not receive the additional $4.5 million, it could consider combining nine high school routes and eliminating two of Bethel Manor Elementary’s three bus routes, for a total savings of $26,700. After-school activity routes could also be reduced, for a savings of $13,500.

If pressed for more reductions, several areas and neighborhoods could be designated “Non-Transportation Zones,” increasing the distance between the neighborhoods and their bus stops. James said that plan would not be recommended, however.

He said his staff has started to research combining middle and high school routes for some schools, but did not have any information available yet.

AP Exam Funding

If York County wanted to find deeper cost savings, the school division could consider eliminating funding for Advanced Placement exams. To eliminate that cost, however, the board would have to remove a mandatory requirement for AP students to take the exam.

In its strategic plan, the board set a goal to increase the amount of students taking the exam; some colleges grant credit hours if students achieve a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the exam. The board requires AP students to take the course, but at one point, did not provide funding for the exam, which costs around $85 per test. Last year, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli rendered an opinion stating school divisions who require the tests must pay for them. As a result, York spent $175,000 to cover the cost for the present year.

While the board could remove the requirement, board members were concerned students might choose not to take the exam and wondered if they might lose some appeal to colleges. But, “with that high of a dollar figure, it’s going to have to be looked at,” Medford said.

Navy National Defense Cadet Corps

In 2011, the Navy disestablished 48 Navy Junior ROTC units, including one at Tabb High, due to low enrollment.

The Navy has, however, offered York County Schools an opportunity to apply for its Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) unit as an alternative. That program does not provide funding for staffing, however, and has less money for instructional support.

Guy recommended the school division apply for NNDCC (applications are non-binding) and if at least 100 students register for the course and additional revenue is made available, the NNDCC program could be offered at Tabb. If less than 100 students register, NNDCC would not be offered, but Tabb students could participate in the NJROTC program at York High.

Upcoming Budget Dates

• Feb. 1: Community Information Session, 6 p.m. at Tabb High. Williams will provide information and answer questions.
• Feb. 6: Community Information Session, 6 p.m. at Bruton High.
• Feb. 7: Joint work session with Board of Supervisors, 6 p.m. in East Room at York Hall.
• Feb. 13: School Board work session, 6 p.m. in East Room at York Hall.
• Feb. 27: Public Hearing on Budget, 7 p.m. in Board Room at York Hall.
• March 22: Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing, 7 p.m. in Board Room at York Hall.
• March 26: Budget Approval, 7 p.m. in Board Room at York Hall.
• April 3: Board of Supervisors Budget Approval, 6 p.m. at York Hall.

Find budget presentations and information here.