HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-10-1998 - Attachment #7
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS
Lincoln Center, Merritt Mill Road
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
Telephone: (919) 967-8211
Neil G. Pedersen
Superintendent
Ann Hart, Assistant Superintendent
for Instructional Services
Chester Preyar, Assistant Superintendent
for Support Services
TO: John Link
Orange County Manager
FROM: Neil G. Pedersen
Superintendent
RE: Anticipated Major Budget Issues for 1999-2000
DATE: November 2, 1998
In anticipation of budget discussions later this year, I anticipate the major new
expense items to include the following:
Expenses Associated with Opening a New Elementary School
Our staffing allocations provide many locally funded positions for new schools;
therefore, a major cost will be incurred when the new school in Southern Village opens. In
addition to staff, new schools generate additional, non-personnel operating expenses such
as utilities and staff development. An estimate of the total costs has not yet been prepared.
(Note: Although a major addition is being constructed at East Chapel Hill High School, it
is not anticipated that there are too many new operating or personnel expenses. Some
resources will be transferred between the two high schools when enrollments are balanced.
Local Salaries
The Board of Education has approved a salary supplement enhancement plan for
teachers (a copy has been provided to the County Manager). The major priority in this plan
is to boost local supplements for less experienced teachers so that our supplement schedule
will be competitive with those of surrounding school districts.
In addition, an administrative salary study was completed last year, which the
Board will implement over two years. Half of the cost was included in the 1998-99
budget, and the remainder should be provided in the 1999-2000 budget.
Class Size Reductions
The Administration provided the Board of Education last February with a report on
class size (a copy has been provided to the County Manager). The report proposes
reducing class sizes over aten-year period and the first year reduction, at the ninth grade,
was implemented last year. In the second year of the study, it is proposed that class sizes
in grades 10-12 be reduced from 26 to 25 and that class sizes in grade 3 be reduced from
26 to 20. The estimated personnel cost of such reductions, assuming that all third grade
classes would continue to be staffed with afull-time assistant, is in excess of $550,000.
Transition Programs
In June, 1999 fifth and eighth grade students who do not demonstrate proficiency
in reading, mathematics, and writing at their grade level will be required to attend summer
school. If they still are not proficient after summer school, they will be retained or placed
into a transition program. Transition programs will be designed to accelerate students'
learning as quickly as possible so that they can be promoted to the sixth or ninth grades. It
is anticipated that there will be significant costs associated with implementing transition
programs.
Limited English Proficiency Program
A task force is now working on a report that will make recommendations for
providing improved services to LEP students. The number of LEP students in our district
is increasing rapidly, particularly among the Hispanic population. One of the purposes of
the study is to identify how other agencies in the community can support these students and
their families.
Exceptional Education and Section 504 Students
Most years we fmd it necessary to increase the resources for exceptional education
students because the number of students requiring services continues to increase and the
severity of their needs intensifies. The specific types of positions that will be needed can
be better determined next spring.
The second-year implementation of a report on Section 504 services calls for the
addition of a Section 504 teacher to serve middle school students.
Positions Associated with Growth or Equity
Our student enrollment increased by 308 students this year and, surely, will
continue to grow next year. In order to serve a growing population and to provide
equitable allocations to schools when students are redistricted next year, there may be a
need for some additional locally funded positions.
Cc: Board of Education
Principals