After having received a substantial increase in funding from council and having received $1.9 million unexpected dollars from the state’s new BEP plan, the OR School Board still cites insufficient funding for the 2007/2008 school year.
On July 11, 2007, the school board held a work session to discuss the $1.9 million BEP funds. Their attached Budget Impact Statement attempts to account for and adjust FY08 Proposed Budget figures.
The following discrepancies are easily identified when compared with the proposed budget and had been previously brought to the attention of at least one, if not more, board members. To date, no member has responded to my request to address these discrepancies, so their validity remains in question:
The wellness coordinator positions are duplicated in the Budget Impact figures as the FY08 proposed budget already specifically allocated for this program. $48,494
Line 72130 599 total expenditures $199,469 – breakdown very unclear, but $64,449 is mentioned as already haven been granted by the state for this program
The newly-eliminated bonus mandate line item was mentioned but not added into the Budget Impact calculations under “adjustments.”
Line 71900 599 “Other – Instructional Contingency” lists $400,000 for a one-time teacher and staff bonus – per the Budget Impact statement, this has been backed out of the budget but is not added to the bottom line of adjustments
Rarity Ridge transportation is duplicated in the Budget Impact calculations $15,000
It must be assumed that these figures were already included in the FY08 Proposed Budget based on Dr. Bailey’s statement during the May 29th school board meeting. “The Superintendent explained that was a correction he had put on the table later that night, and it was established that if any child was transported up to a mile, anyone outside of that, transportation has to be provided; Rarity Ridge or someone out seven or ten miles away could not be excused, they all had to be picked up. Ms. Massey clarified that Rarity Ridge was reinstated. The Superintendent replied that was correct, because not to do so would mean ORS was not in compliance with State regulations.”
The mandated .30 ELL position ($16,094) appears to have already been covered by the additional .50 ELL position in the FY08 Proposed Budget – this would bring the total number of ELL teachers up to 2.
From page iii: “We are recommending .10 ELL Teacher (due to the loss of Federal Funding), 1.0 ELL teacher assistant (with federal funding)….” From Appendix B-1 – total ELL staff increase from 1.5 in FY07 to 2 in FY08
Total Unexplained Redundancies or Omissions: $479,588
With an understanding that council cannot modify or delete any item in the OR School Budget, the City Charter does not preclude council from asking for clarification on any line item. In fact, the City Charter states that the Board is obligated to “cooperate with the city council, city manager, and other officials of the city government…in programs leading to improvements and economies in the public services provided the residents and taxpayers.” It is in this spirit that I request that council seek answers to these discrepancies prior to final approval of the OR School Board FY08 Budget.
BEP 2.0 – OAK RIDGE – BUDGET’08 – IMPACT
BEP 2.0- INCREASE BASED UPON NEW MODEL 1,966,000$
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BUDGET ’08- (Projected BEP increase based upon Historical Trend Data ($529,410) and Anticipation of NEW At-Risk ($301,000) and Growth Funding ($167,000). 997,410$
NET DIFFERENCE- ACTUAL “NEW MONEY” 968,590$
ADDITIONAL 1% SALARY ADJUSTMENT – COLA (325,000)$
(SUPPORTS FUNDING A TOTAL OF A 3% COLA MANDATED BY THE STATE)
CITY FUNDING SHORTFALL (140,000)$
(NEEDED FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED 2% COLA)
BALANCE FOR USE 503,590$
NOTE: The State indicated that ELL, At-Risk and Translator funding ($1,295,000) requires tracking and must support School Improvement Plans.
ADJUSTMENTS: (Mandatory- Federal, State, BOE Policy or Contractual)
.30 ELL Teacher- (BEP 2.0) (16,094)$
.50 Translator- (BEP 2.0) (25,691)$
.50 Braille Teacher- (Special Ed IEP) (25,691)$
1.0 Braille Teacher Assistant- (Special Ed IEP) (19,361)$
.50 Inclusion Teacher- (Loss of Federal Funding, Special Ed IEP) (23,536)$
2.0 Nurses/ 1.0 Special Ed Guidance – (Net Loss of Federal Funding)(Needed to Maintain Current Staffing) (6,000)$
Wellness Coordinator- (State Mandated Positions – 1.0 Coordinator and 1.0 Assistant) (48,494)$
Rarity Ridge Transportation Services- (Based upon Enrollment) (15,000)$
Budgeted vs. Actual Salaries- (Contracts issued) (39,716)$
Sub-Total (219,583)$
ADJUSTMENTS: (Positive Impact)
Liability Insurance Premium Credit $ 16,056
ADJUSTMENTS: (No General Fund Impact)
Preschool Program – Addition of One Classroom $ –
State Bonus Elimination- Revenue was State Pass-Thru Funding and Local One-Time Money from Fund Balance- Both revenue and expenditures have been backed out of the budget. $ –
Sub-Total $ –
ADJUSTMENTS: (Discretionary)
Secretarial – Internal Equity Reclass – 5 Secretaries reclassed from Level C to Level D, based upon current job duties $ (11,310)
REMAINING BALANCE FOR USE 288,753$
STATE RECOMMENDATION: (Based upon Accountability Guidelines)
(Earmark 30% of tracked funds for Non-recurring expenses that directly impact the classroom)
$1,295,000 x 30% = $388,500
Textbook Base- (Existing Base – $191,000)( Historical Average Expenditure-$337,668) (146,668)$
Equipment Base-( Existing Base – $60,778)(Historical Average Expenditure of Priority One Requests Only – $150,000+) (67,085)$
Furniture Base-( Existing Base – $0)- (Example; The cost to equip one classroom with student desks – $2,000, one set of cafeteria tables – $25,000) (75,000)$
ENDING BALANCE -$
Trina Baughn 