Expected Downturn in Revenue Has SCR-I Projecting Nearly $350,000 Deficit Budget for 2021-22

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The Scotland County R-I Board of Education met June 26th. Prior to the meeting, George Koontz was presented a plaque for his 21 years of dedicated service to the Scotland County R-1 School Board.

President Christy Aylward called the regular session meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the following members present: Christy Aylward, Sam Berkowitz, Sidney Johnson, George Koontz, Rhonda McBee, and Jamie Triplett. Cole Tippett was absent.

President, Christy Aylward read the following election results:

Board of Directors: Scotland County: Jamie Triplett – 542, George Koontz – 275, Rhonda McBee – 497, Jason Small – 371.  Clark County: Jamie Triplett – 1, George Koontz – 2, Rhonda McBee – 4, Jason Small – 1.

George Koontz moved to certify the election results with Jamie Triplett, Rhonda McBee and Jason Small being the board members elected. Motion was seconded. Motion carried 6-0.

President Aylward swore in the elected candidates, Jamie Triplett, Rhonda McBee, and Jason Small.

At 6:10 p.m. Dr. Bergeson was in charge of the meeting for the election of officers. Sam Berkowitz nominated a slate for the Board of Directors; Christy Aylward – President, Jamie Triplett – Vice President, Cole Tippett – Secretary, Rhonda McBee – Treasurer, and Sam Berkowitz – Parliamentarian through acclamation. Motion was seconded. Motion carried 6-0.

The meeting was turned over to President Aylward at 6:15p.m. Members present were Christy Aylward, Sam Berkowitz, Sidney Johnson, Rhonda McBee, Jason Small and Jamie Triplett. Cole Tippett was absent.

Consent Agenda 

The board voted 6-0 to approve the following items on the consent agenda:

Regular Meeting Minutes from May 14th; Athletic & Coaches Handbook; 2020-21 Career Ladder Handbook; Approve Updated Sub List

Financial Update

Bergeson reported tear-to-date revenues for the district of $7,118,455.86.  Year-to-date expenses were reported as $7,086,752.99, with the district reporting a surplus of $31,702.87 as of June 25, 2020.

“The district did see a significant downturn in revenue at the state level due to COVID-19,” Bergeson stated. “The district experienced a reduction of 2% in basic formula, 22% in Classroom Trust Fund, and 12% in Transportation.”

The withholdings equaled a reduction of $96,966 in state revenue.  The district will have additional expenses and is expecting additional federal revenue to close out the fiscal year.

Salary Proposal

The Board voted 6-0 to accept the salary committee proposal as follows:

Scotland County R-1 will contribute $525/month, $6,300 annually for employee insurance. A pair of healthy savings account options will be offered – HSA $6550, Cost $462.36, Contribution $62.64; HSA $4000, Cost $506.06; Contribution $18.94

HSA $4000 and HSA $6550 paid in full.  The difference will be placed in the health savings account each month.

The district will also fund vision insurance and a $25,000 life insurance policy for employees.

The salary base will raise from $31,620 last year to $32,000, a $380 or 1.2% increase. In addition, all returning eligible certified employees will receive a step on the salary schedule, which combined with the base salary increase will result in an overall raise of 1.99%.

Transportation Director, Food Service Director, and School Nurse will receive a 1.99% increase.

As part of the proposal, the board adopted the following non certified base salaries: Head Cook: $14,520; Cook: $13,860; Bus Driver: $10,520; Secretary: $25,475; Parents as Teachers: $16,530; Custodian: $23,920; Paraprofessional: $13,595. The positions were adjusted to meet or exceed minimum wage requirements for 2021.

The proposal also gives  all returning noncertified employees a step on the salary schedule.

Para professionals, Parents as Teachers, and full-time cooks will be paid on a 1,320 yearly hours (Required Days: 156 school days + 3 PD + 6 holidays) base and will be expected to attend the six additional professional development days as assigned on the 2020-2021 school calendar at the discretion of the administration. The professional development hours will be paid based on the number of hours worked and will not count toward 1320 yearly hours. Professional Development time logs will be paid in the month following the meetings.  Contract time is from 7:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.

As part of the agreement, SCR-I will continue to fund the district Career Ladder, providing a salary bonus for each step as follows: Step 1: $1,000; Step 2: $2,000; Step 3: $3,250 at estimated total cost of approximately $105,000.

Raise the non-certified substitute rate to $80/day.

As part of the perfect attendance reward, the district will offer up to $500 employee bonus for perfect attendance.  This includes: $200 employee bonus for each semester with perfect attendance; an additional $100 bonus for perfect attendance for the entire school year.

The business manager, superintendent, elementary principal, and high school principal will receive a 1% salary increase.

As part of the agreement, the board established the school day schedule as follows: Breakfast: 7:35 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.; School Day: 8:00 a.m. – 3:31 p.m.; with an established contract time of 7:30 a.m. – 3:50 p.m. for staff members.

There were no change this year in the number sick/personal days that are awarded each school year.  However, this will be reviewed at the end of the 2020-2021 school year.  The school board would like to encourage the staff to schedule as many appointments as possible on scheduled days off to avoid the loss of quality instructional time with students.

The board will consider a change in policy GDBDA & GCBDA that reflects staff must be present at the board meeting to request extension of holiday and/or three-day consecutive use of personal days.

The agreement set activity trip bus driver hourly rate at $10.30/hour

Employees holding only a vocational career certificate for trade and industrial (Building trades) will not be frozen but must attend 3 of 5 years MoACTE annual meetings to advance. Proof of attendance must be provided to the central office, by the employee.

Policy Update

The Board updated short term leave policies GCDBA and GDBDA to amend personal leave requests. Personal leave may not be taken on the first day of school, the last day of school, orientation day, recording day, or the day before or the day following a holiday or a regular scheduled vacation unless approved by the Board of Education. The change stated – If personal leave is to extend a holiday and/or be three consecutive days anytime during the school year, the Employee will be required to present (in person) the extended Personal Day request to the Board of Education 30 days in advance.

The motion was unanimously approved.

2020-21 Budget

The 2020-21 proposed budget was presented to the board.  The revenues reflect a local tax rate that is estimated at $3.6235, using a projected assessed valuation of $71,788,235, and figuring an expected downturn in state revenue.

Revenues total $6,644,826.  Total expenditures include the salary proposal as described above and are projected at $6,993,690.75, resulting in a projected deficit of $348,864.75.

The board voted 6-0 to adopt the budget.

Over-Expenditure Resolution

 It is required, by law, that the Board pass a resolution stating the budget for expenditures for a fiscal year be amended to match actual expenditures in each overspent line for the year.  The board voted 6-0 to adopt this resolution.

Tuition Rates

The Board voted 6-0 to establish the tuition rates for fiscal year 2020-21. The rate for K-12 tuition was set at $8,500.00.

Grocery Bids

The board voted 6-0 to accept the firm milk bid from Prairie Farms, the bread bid from Bimbo Foods, and the grocery bid from Kohl Wholesale for the 20-21 school year.

Employee Picnic and Staff Breakfast

 The staff welcome back employee breakfast will be Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. and the new employee picnic will be Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m.  Both meals will be served in the High School Commons. 

July Meeting

The board meeting has been set for Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the High School Library.

Open session closed at 8:32 p.m.

Executive Session

The following items were approved:

Approve May 14, 2020 closed session minutes, 5-0-1, Jamie Triplett ABSTAINED

Hire Elizabeth Foster as an Elementary Teacher for 2020-2021, 5-0 (Jason Small was Absent)

Allow Don Miller to be a volunteer JH Softball Coaching Assistant, 5-0 (Jason Small was absent)

Hire Hunter Halley as an ECSE Speech Language Pathology Assistant for 2020-2021, 6-0

Assign Amanda Mohr as the full-time Head Cook at the High School, 6-0

Hire Ginger Bass as a part-time food service employee, 6-0

Assign coaching/sponsors for the 2020-21 school year – Assistant Marching Band – Chanel Oliver; Drama – Tori Kiger; Color Guard – Jasmine Hamner; 7th Grade Girls Basketball – Jessica McBee; JH Football Cheerleading – Tori Kiger; JH Pom Sponsor – Emily Frederick; Junior Class Sponsor – Jenna Ward; National Honor Society – Terri Slaughter; National Honor Society Kara Wickert

The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.