HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09-26-2024 - Business Meeting 1
APPROVED 1117/24
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
JOINT MEETING WITH
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION
September 26, 2024
7:00 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a joint meeting with the Orange County
Board of Education and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education on Thursday, September 26,
2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Sally Greene,
and Commissioners Amy Fowler (arrived at 7:03 p.m.), Jean Hamilton, Earl McKee, Phyllis
Portie-Ascott, and Anna Richards
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Interim Deputy County Manager
Caitlin Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen (All other staff members will be
identified appropriately below)
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESENT: Chair George Griffin, Vice-
Chair Riza Jenkins, and Board Members Meredith Ballew, Vickie Feaster Fornville, Barbara
Fedders, Michael Sharp
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION ABSENT: Rani Dasi
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO SCHOOLS (CHCCS) STAFF PRESENT: Superintendent Nyah
Hamlett and Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Scott
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESENT: Chair Anne Purcell, Vice-Chair Andre
Richmond, and Board Members Will Atherton, Carrie Doyle, Bonnie Hauser, Wendy Padilla, and
Sarah Smylie
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ABSENT: None
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS (OCS) STAFF PRESENT: Superintendent Danielle Jones and
Chief Finance Officer Rhonda Rath
Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present,
except for Commissioner Fowler.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Chair Bedford welcomed the elected officials and staff from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
Schools and Orange County Schools.
Commissioner Fowler arrived at 7:03 p.m.
All the elected officials and staff introduced themselves.
1. Financial Updates
a. Orange County Schools
Rhonda Rath, OCS Chief Operating Officer, made the following presentation:
2
Slide#1
Orange
County
Financial
Schools
Updates
o.,..
Slide #2
Planning for the ESSER Funding"Cliff"
From an initial budget of$3 we have steadily walked to$720 thousand for
to 4+million in ESSER this level down,with key positions in FY25,
spending per year... Board support, which we have funded
through reducing
existing budgets
to avoid the
now LN,
"cliff"
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 September 30,2024
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
Rhonda Rath said that they have been able to continue the support of ESSER funded
programs and have lowered their reliance on Federal ESSER funds down through support from
the Board.
3
Slide#3
■
5 Year Actual Enrollment by Ethnicity
Total District Membership NC LEA Membership
4,600 70opm 653,548
4,O 3.932
GW,OM 387,315
3 500 3,390
Slk71W0
3p00
2 500 400.00D 345,189
273,262 333,639
2,440 300,121
300,OOD
1,Sm 2l}]1000
IOW
a62 519 100J]W 60,564 57,544 78,360 78,622
Avian Hispanic Black white 64u16-R A Asian Hispanic &4ck While Multi-R4u61
f 2o2o fID2] f2O22 •lO]3 fxup4 ■2WO m2021 ■2022 f2023 ■2024
American Hawaiian Multi- American I 6LIti-
Indian Asian Hispanic Black Pacific White Racial Total Indian Asian Hispanic Black Pacific White Racial Total
202C 14 98 1842 1011 1 3932 462 7360 2020 14250 50,564 273,262 345,1 1,969 653,548 78,360 1,419,142
2021 11 106 1927 115 0 M13 491 7011 2021 15,637 51,585 270,527 339,614 L895 6ZZ464 66,434 1,368,156
2022 10 112 ism gas 1 3543 530 7067 2022 14,906 52,406 280,766 33&585 L985 611,812 70,399 1,370,859
2023 10 128 1939 985 0 3471 532 7065 2023 14,712 9847 290,626 33&097 L972 604933 74,94b 1,N8,133
2024 17 128 1949 988 0 339C 518 H -5,0% W24 1d,063 57,50 30U,121 333,639 L957 587,315 78,622 1,373,266 .3.2%
EW.Snurce:1
2
11
5ratiartcal Profile
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS 200E Kmg$treei-Hillsborough.N orth Camino 27270-919732.0126 W W W.O R A N G E C O U N T Y r I R s T.C om
Rhonda Rath said there is a downward trend for all schools in the state. She said that
Orange County is reporting at 5% total decline. She said the number of white students has
declined by 14% since 2020 and enrollment for Hispanic students has increased 6%. She said
that there is a 10% decline in white enrollment and a 10% increase in Hispanic enrollment
projected across the state in the next five years.
Slide #4
FY 2025 Budget Request
FY 24 Baseline/Continuation Budget $42.8 million
Projected Continuation Increases $ 1 .9 million
+ State mandated Salary 8 Benefit Increases $1.1 million
• I Personnel related increases(Utilities,fuel,etc.) $0.8 million
otal Continuation Budget
Expansion Requests $ 3.1 million
• Classified Salary Increase $0.5 million
• Certified Supplement Increase $2.0 million
I Ed Corps Partnership $0.3 million
• STEM $0.1 million
6 Field Trips $0.2million
Grand Total Budget Request $47.8 million
Ali
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
4
Slide #5
Balancing FY 2025 Budget
Total Local Operating Budget $44.9 million
Continuation Budget $44.7 million
Legislated Salary&Benefit increases
Projected non-personnel increases
• Committed Recruitment Bonuses
• HMH Literacy/Solution Tree/Branching Minds&Panorama
• 3%Athletic Supplement Increase
• Transportation Incentives
• NC Ed Corp Tutoring-Title I
• STEM resources and training-Title IV
• District aponsoredfieldtrips-BldgstructureforOCSexperience
Unanticipated Expenditure Reserve $ 0.2 million
JIF BALANCED BUDGE
Does not incorporate fund valance appropnations
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
Rhonda Rath discussed the expenditure reductions based on the Board of Commissioners
approved budget of$44.9 million.
Slide #6
Balancing Needs and Priorities
Recruit&Retain a Student proficiency Allocate resources to
high quality best meet the needs
workforce &growth of students& staff
Reduced existing budgets$550.8
Reduced existing budgets$166.5 thousand to fund: Shift budget to support:
thousand to fund: • HMH literacy curriculum • NC Ed Corps tutoring in
• Committed Recruitment • Solution Tree designated Title I Elementary
Schools
bonuses • Branching Minds • STEM resource replenishment
• 3%Athletic Supplement . Panorama
increases • Academic coaches &curriculum integration
Continued funding for: /interventionists training
• Transportation incentives Continued funding for: • Building structures to create an
• One daily sub per school "OCS experience"
CHALLENGE.
Rhonda Rath said that departmental budgets were reduced by about $7,000 each. She
said that these reductions were required due to lack of funding to do all priority programs.
5
Slide #7
Fund Balance Trend
6,620,000
6.130,000
4,940,000
4,120,000
3,420,000
+Fund Balance is determined at the close
of the fiscal year which is June 30_Until
the external audit is completed and the
district's financial statements are
finalized,any reference to FV 2024 fund
balance is an'estimate/best guess
r
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
ENGAGE CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
Slide #8
Pr
Questions?
Commissioner McKee said he appreciates the work they have done with the budget
available. He asked what caused the fund balance to go down and if it was related to COVID.
Rhonda Rath said that during COVID, the district was able to put more into fund balance,
but since then there has been more of a drain.
Commissioner Richards asked what caused the 5% decline in enrollment.
6
Rhonda Rath said she did not have a definitive answer as to the reason. She said it
seems that the school age population in the county has declined, and it is seen across the state.
Commissioner McKee asked if charter school enrollment has leveled out.
Rhonda Rath said that it is a flat trendline now.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the CTE program and why it was not included in
the list of programs.
Rhonda Rath said that based upon the information that she has, their CTE programs are
funded at the level to meet the courses they are offering in the schools. She said that the state
has provided sufficient funding for those positions. She said that CTE teacher vacancies are hard
to fill in schools and she does not know the number of vacancies in the classes and that she would
get information on this to Commissioner Portie-Ascott.
Commissioner Fowler expressed appreciation for their efforts in balancing the budget with
student needs first.
Commissioner Hamilton asked how much of their fund balance is undesignated and what
percent of budget expenditures are in the undesignated fund.
Rhonda Rath said that she would send that information to the Board of Commissioners
when the previous fiscal year audit is completed.
b. Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
Nyah Hamlett made the following presentation:
Slide #1
THINK (AND
DIFFERENTLY
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Slide #2
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Our on-
�, Equipping students to 0
G,�,�s°R navigate the world
,� !'� and make a positive Z
W impact throughout Y
�� �° their life's journey.
STRATEGIC PLAN
zo22-Zo2�
Slide
Mission.
CHCCS believes every individual's unique
Slide #4
background and culture enhance our
schools. By providing students with a safe
and joyful learning environment, we
collaborate with families to create a
community where all students, families and
staff members feel affirmed and respected to
develop their fullest potential.
THINK(AND ACT1
cnaPeiNucom�c+vsnooi � ncs_oe DIFFERENTLY
Corgi 1�01
• Engagement
• Collective Efficacy
• Social Justice Action
• Wellness
• Joy
THINK(AND ACT)
cna�y.caR�rocsnoos� «sorg DIFFERENTLY
8
Slide#5
w
Beginning of Year
C 2 �Ro
x � n
�; TOGETHER NC)w S
LEAO�RSHIP
SYMPOSIUM
J 5^
Leadership .. THINK i
August 2024 DIFFERENTLY
Slide#6
Student Demographics
Asian: 13.5%
Black: 12.0%
Latinx: 19.6% 47.2% A 12.077
Multiracial: 7.6%
Native American: 0.1%
White: 47.2% 0.1%
ce�,nai-c�roo.o cry schools cnccs.ae THINK(AND ACT)
Slide#7
Student Demographics
Students with Disabilities (Current):
1,368 (12.0%)
Multilingual Learners (Current):
1,561 (13.7%)
Economically Disadvantaged Students (EOY 2023-24):
3,633 (31.2%)
chapel Hill City s,nooisIch—o,g THINK(AND ACT)
9
Riza Jenkins continued the presentation:
Slide #8
Financial Updates
THINK(AND ACT)
DIFFERENTLY
Riza Jenkins made a statement on the current financial conditions of the Chapel Hill-
Carrboro City Schools. She said that their goal is to become a financially sustainable district and
that will require change. She said that it is necessary based on the realities of public education
funding, while carrying out their legal obligation to provide a sound basic education for students.
She said that there has been misinformation regarding the misuse of funds but wanted to clarify
that it is not true. She said the work they have been doing with the support of their staff is to
become a financial sustainable district. She said that they know this will take changes.
Jonathan Scott continued the presentation:
Slide #9
Historical Trend in Average Daily
Membership (ADM) - Last 15 Years
Average Daily Membership
12,500
7 70
72,239
12.094 12,138 12,113
12,076
11,965
12,000 11,905
19,764
117
1 \
1,500 11,412
11.369
l 1,240
l l Ofi8
11,000
2012 2014 2018 2018 2020 2022 2024
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools I chcas.org THINK (AND ACT)
10
Slide #10
Historical Trend in Average Daily
Membership (ADM) - Last 15 Years
e 201 1 : 11 ,629 e 2019: 12,296
e 2012: 11 ,905 e 2020: 12,270
e 2013: 12,094 e 2021 : 11 ,764
e 2014: 12, 138 e 2022: 11 ,412
e 2015: 12,076 e 2023: 11 ,369
e 2016: 11 ,965 e 2024: 11 ,240
e 2017: 12, 113 e 2025: 11 ,068
e 2018: 12,239
cnopeiHrii-carrboro City Schools I chccs.org THINK (AND ACT)
Slide #11
Year-Over-Year Deficit Spending Trends
and Current Local Fund Balance Estimates
Fund Balance Beginning of Fiscal Year 2021: $15,876,527
Year-Over-Year Trend Data for Local Operating Budget Deficits:
Y
$(120,233)21
FYE
$ (3,524,347 .
6/30/22 )FYE $ (6,514,890)
6/30/23
FYE $ (5,599,844) $ (81,568)
6/30/24
chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools I cnccs.org THINK(AND ACT)RIMMOMM
11
Slide #12
Local Fund Balance: A 12-Year
Historical Perspective
12.36%
O 99
YO.00M a 9.49%
85%
5.2)%
S.lp% d'5l%
4.07%
Chapel Hill-Carrboro city schools I chccs.org THINK(AND ACT)
Slide #13
Estimated FTE Breakdown by
Source of Funds FYE 6/30/24
FTECategory Fund I(State)Fund 2 ILocal)Fu A 3(Federal) Fund 4(Capital) Fund 5(Child Nutrition) Fu A 7(Community Schools� �und&(Othei,Giants)Grand Total Percent of
Total
Teacher 662.0 210.7 25.3 1" 913.5 49.2%
Teacher Assistant 132.4 141.9 16.3 292.6 154%
Instructional Support Personnel(tertifiedl 87.0 134.4 7.5 30.8 259.7 13,7%
Technical and Administrative Support 6.0 109.9 1.0 3.0 4,0 4.5 128.4 6,9%
District Administrator 2.6 51.6 5.0 1.0 2.9 63.0 3.3%
Instructional Support Personnel(Non-Certified) 94 43,7 2,0 1.0 56.1 30%
School Admini stator 22.3 265 48.8 2,6%
Bus Driver 40.4 4.2 44.6 2.4%
Custodian 38.5 38.5 2.0%
SkllledTrades 1.0 24.0 2.0 27.0 1.4%
Community Schools 18,6 18.6 10%
Child Nutrition Worker 1.0 5.3 6.3 03%
Grand Total 1=6 746S 40.8 2.0 U U6 72.9 1W.1 1IM
Penatntolfotal SM 39.4% 2.2% 0.2% 0.4% 1.2% UN 100.07i
Chapel Hui-Carrboro city schools I chccs.org THINK (AND ACT)VIM MRHM
12
Slide #14
Financial Position Prior to Budget Adoption
BudgetaryUl . .- .
I=
. .
Revenues:
2.4%Increase to Special District Tax(Inflationary) $676,000
57.Increase from BOCC Manager's Proposed Budget $2,966,368
Total Revenue Increase $3,642,368
Continuation Costs:
3%State Mandated Salary Increases $1,626,950
Matching Benefit Increases $934,300
Non-salary Operating Cost Adjustment $740,000
Total Estimated Continuation Costs $3,301,250
Resulting Total Estimated Budgetary Surplus(FY2024-25 Continuation Only) $341,118
Estimated Budget Deficit from FY 2023-24 $(5,599,8441
Net Budget Shortfall in FY 2024-25 Prior to Budget Adoption
Jonathan Scott said the school board intends to adopt a continuing budget resolution on
October 15. He said that the proposed special tax district increase of 0.4% results in roughly $3.6
million.
Slide #15
Impact of Adopted Spending Reduction Plan
Budgetary - pact in FY 2024-25 Long-term Impact mlillillillilliwBu MMMI
(Beyondf
Net Budget Shortfall in FY 2024-25 $ (5,258,756) $ (5,258,756)
Prior to Budget Adoption
Tier I: Corrective Action Plan from 2,395,000 2,395,000
FY 2023-24
Tier II: Central Office and Ancillary 2,034,747 2,364,457
Support/Central Services
Tier III: Instructional Support and 835,305 5,126,500
Non-Core Teaching Roles
Estimate - nanciall rosn�J $ 6 $ 4,627,201
after Spending Reductions ML A=.
CHCCS
Jonathan Scott discussed the three-tiered approach that will resize the district to put them
back on a financially sustainable course. He said that plans implemented last year and continued
through this year will net them around $2.5 million each in tiers 1 and 2 and tier three near $5
13
million. He said that tier three is a long-term approach and is a hybrid between tiers 1 and 2 to
downsize the district based on funding available. He said that the tiers were designed as a bridge
and to give everyone as much notice as possible that they must bring the organization in line with
funding realities.
Nyah Hamlett continued the presentation:
Slide #16
2024-25 Staffing Update
Impact of Reduction in Force
Tier 1 :
• 34.5 of 37 positions eliminated (via
attrition)
• 2.5 FTEs Pending
^P °1-1—1.1, r.,, THINK(AND ACT) ''®
Slide#17
2024-25 Staffing Update
Tier 2:
• 11 Central Office positions
eliminated (via re-assignment)
• 13 Central Office positions
eliminated (via closing vacancies)
• 0 FTEs Pending
.n««HI 0 1, THINK LAND ACT)
Slide #18
2024-25 Staffing Update
Tier 3:
• 4 of 43 positions eliminated (via
attrition and re-assignment)
• 39 FTEs pending
• Note: 26 positions will be reduced
(June 2025)
c,naoei rtu c1,11roc,sahcob <n I.'" THI NK IA ND ACT)rMUTOMM
14
Slide #19
2024-25 Staffing Update
School-Based Positions
1 ,614 of 1 ,662 Positions Filled (97.1%)
• 1 ,138 of 1 ,165 Certified Positions Filled
(97.7%)
• 204 of 214 EC (Exceptional Children)
Positions Currently Filled (95.3%)
• 40 of 40 MLL Teacher Positions Filled (100%)
• 52 of 59 Pre-K Positions Filled (88.1%)
crbpel xh.N'I cnc—Q THINK(AND ACT)
Slide#20
2024-25 Staffing Update
Central Services*
• 338 of 361 Central Services Positions Filled
(93.6%)
• 57 of 59 Bus Driver Positions Filled (96.6%)
*Central Services includes classified and certified positions that are Q
based in schools or itinerant staff who serve multiple schools.
Ch,p,lHurcart ,CiyS—d, THINK(AND ACT)
Ashauna Harris, Human Resources Director for Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools,
continued the presentation:
Slide #21
2024-25 Staffing Update
All Employees All Employees
(23-24) (24-25) %Change
Sept.2023 Sept.2024
Asian 3.4% 3.6% +0.2%
Black 26.0% 26.7% +0.77.
Hispanic/Latinx 7.8% 9.0% +1.2%
White 60.0% 58.2% -1.807o
Native American/Alaskan Native 0.4% 0.3% -0.1170
Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 0.5% 0.4% -0.170
Two or More Races 13% 1.8% -0.170
CHCCS
15
Slide #22
2024-25 Staffing Update
Licensed Licensed
Employees Employees %Change
Sept.2023 Sept.2024
Asian 2.1% 2.5% +0.4%
Black 18.8%a 18.9% +0.1%
Hispanic/Latinx 7.2% 8.3% +0.9%
White 68.6% 68.0% -1.7%
Native American/Alaskan Native 0.4% 0.2% +0.27.
Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander 0.3% 0.4176 +0.2%
Two or More Races 2.6% 1.6% -0.3%
CHCCS
Slide #23
Retention & Teacher Pipelines
Overall Teacher Attrition: 3.4% (28 of 816
Classroom Teachers)
• 1st Year Teachers (CHCCS): 2.3% Attrition
(1 of 43)
• 1 st Year Teachers (State): 15% Attrition
• 1st Year Teachers (Nationally): 20% Attrition
Cho 1HillC o.a ily S—ds 9 THINK(AND ACT)
Slide #24
Retention & Teacher Pipelines
Teacher Pipelines
• TA 2 Teach: 23 Participants (4 of 23 EC
Teachers; all of Cohort 5)
• Student Teachers & Interns: 82 (from 12
colleges/universities)
• 1-1-111 Visa Sponsorship: 7 teachers
Ch1r 1AII-co.n,o.oawS11 ,II I1h,-og THINK{AND ACT)
16
Commissioner McKee said he does not know where to start but would start by asking
about the reduction in fund balance that dropped off but then came back. He asked if he was
reading this correctly, he wondered what their cash position is. He said there is a reduction of
several million over the last four years and it would place them in a tenuous financial position. He
said that he does not know if they have discussed a fix and that while he sees reductions, he does
not see those making a substantial enough impact to change their financial position. He said he
would like to know about the cash position of CHCCS and where they are regarding being able
to pay their bills.
Jonathan Scott said that they are in the same place that they were last year, and the
county continues to forward the district tax funds until they collect the district tax, so that the district
can continue to pay bills. He said that without that support, they would be in a very dire financial
position at the beginning of the school year.
Commissioner McKee said that he has always advocated for the county to act as a
backstop for the district, but he saw this as for emergencies such as schools being destroyed or
property being destroyed, something along that nature.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how the district had such a large fund balance in FY21.
Jonathan Scott said that federal funds during COVID allowed the district to accumulate a
higher fund balance, but that they have always carried higher than the requirement. He said that
2019/2020 they ran around revenue neutral.
Commissioner Hamilton said she was glad to see that the district had a plan to build fund
balance back up. She asked if any positions that they are eliminating affect students and how.
She also asked what fund balance changes were spent on. She said that usually those are for
onetime expenditures rather than to support a re-occurring cost.
Nyah Hamlett said one of their priorities was to preserve student facing positions to the
maximum extent possible. She said that is why they started with central office positions. She said
that those positions do affect students indirectly. She said that some were professional learning
to staff and two mental health positions. She said they have made shifts and adjustments. She
said they have tried to move existing positions around to cover eliminated positions.
Jonathan Scott said that CHCCS appropriated $5 million and that was used in fund
balance in FY22 for recruitment and retention. He said that they did not generate much in lapsed
salary due to the high fill rate of positions. He said they experienced a 98% fill rates due to these
efforts and with the combination of higher salaries and fewer lapse salaries, it took more out of
the fund balance than they were expecting.
Vice-Chair Greene asked if the district has a plan to get back to using fund balance for
one-time expenses rather than continuing costs.
Jonathan Scott said yes and that goes back to the three-tiered approach, and they
anticipate it being breakeven this year and then next year the fund balance will start to rebuild.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the notification process for employees in Tier 2
that were eliminated. She also asked if employees in Tier 3 are aware that their positions may
be eliminated.
Nyah Hamlett said the tier 3 staff employee groups have been notified but individuals have
not been notified yet because they are trying to work through that with attrition. She said as
positions turn over throughout the year, the vacant positions will be frozen. She said they will
know specific positions in the spring. She said that they tried their best with timing of notifications,
but they had to wait for school board approval.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if the office staff all come in to work or work remotely.
Nyah Hamlett said all central office employees work in-person.
Commissioner Richards said there are 18,197 positions on the FTE estimate.
Jonathan Scott said that number is the starting point prior to the reductions.
Commissioner Richards asked what that number was in 2022.
Jonathan Scott said that they should be similar.
17
Commissioner Richards said the cliff started around 2022 and she is trying to understand
when the recognition of the problem occurred. She said if the staffing number stayed the same
from 2022-24, when did the plan for Tier 2 come together.
Riza Jenkins said that initially the school board wanted to find savings that did not involve
personnel and protect student facing positions. She said that they did not realize the amount of
savings that they had hoped for with those changes. She said that at that point they decided to
adjust their allotments for schools. She explained how the state allots funding and referred to
slide #13. She said they are still having conversations about the instruction and programs that
they offer, and the work is not done to stabilize the district.
Commissioner Richards said that enrollment was down, and staffing was flat. She asked
why expenditures were not adjusted at that time.
Riza Jenkins said there will be more adjustments that have to be made.
Vickie Feaster Fornville said they will have to work even harder to determine what
positions will be eliminated in the future.
Commissioner Fowler said the state is failing in its job to fund education. She asked where
the eliminations were in central office positions.
Nyah Hamlett said school staff and district wide positions.
Commissioner Fowler asked if the district had a fund balance policy that stated that fund
balance should only be spent on one-time expenditures.
Chair Bedford said it is a county-policy that was adopted decades ago.
Commissioner Fowler said she wants the school board to be aware of that when making
decisions.
Chair Bedford asked if the state had distributed the initial allotments for the year.
Jonathan Scott said yes.
Chair Bedford asked both school districts for the previous year's allotment charts.
Riza Jenkins said they review the financial statements monthly. She said that they also
must educate the public on allotments.
Chair Bedford asked how far in advance they knew of the loss of$2.5 million.
Jonathan Scott said that they realized the amount of the deficit at the end of quarter 2. He
said that the fill rates were much higher than they have historically budgeted. He said there were
also unexpected increases for utilities.
Chair Bedford referred to a handout prepared by county staff explaining the history of
county funding for the schools.
Commissioner McKee said that the blame cannot be laid at the state. He asked if the
county needs to be prepared for a mid-year budget request.
George Griffin said they do not anticipate making a budget request. He said that the
question is why they did not act sooner. He said that between the pandemic and now they have
lost 8% of their student body but they were staffed as if they had not had a reduction. He said that
each year in the last three years they could have done staff reductions, but it is hard to do that
when there is a fund balance of $12 million dollars in fund balance. He said that if you see the
projections, you see that in 2024 is where you cross the line into where the revenues no longer
meet expenses. He said that it made sense to not carry funds while you are not hiring staff. He
said that they cannot continue to spend more than they take in.
Nyah Hamlett said that they do not anticipate adding another tier to the proposed cuts.
She said that "more to come" means adjustments in allotment formulas and working with staff
overtime.
Commissioner McKee said that seems to be exactly what has them into this situation.
Chair Bedford said the plan will rebuild fund balance in this coming year.
Commissioner McKee said that he is not trying to be argumentative and that he
remembers the conversation where the county discussed concern with the district on carrying too
high of a fund balance. He said he has been concerned about this. He said that this is not an
18
emergency per se, not a natural emergency. He said that he does not want to see a reduction in
force, but this is something that has been seen for three years. He said that there is a reduction
of student numbers,that COVID funds are going away,that the county is constrained in how much
they can allocate for schools, and this has created the perfect storm that is going to cause some
very hard conversations. He said that he is not sure how amenable he would be to a to a mid-
year budget request.
2. Bond and Facilities Update
Travis Myren presented the bond education website which recently launched.
Chair Bedford said that the bond was endorsed by the Orange County Democratic Party.
She asked if the county has speakers who can speak to community groups on the bond.
Travis Myren said Kristin Prelipp, Interim Community Relations Director, can provide those
resources. He reminded that neither staff nor the bond education committee can advocate for the
bond using public funds, but they will present the facts.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott said that the Northern Orange NAACP also endorsed the
bond.
Fredrick Davis, Chief Operating Officer of Orange County Schools, said that the Board
had a meeting discussing the educational impacts of the bond last week and they continue to
educate and raise awareness on the impacts.
George Griffin thanked the Board of Commissioners for the bond in support of the schools.
He said that North Carolina ranks 491" out of 50 states in per pupil expenditures.
Al Ciarochi said that there was information in the packet on CHCCS bond plans. He said
that they met with the community and have three outstanding plans.
3. School Academic Update (including Enrollment and Vacancies)
a. Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
Nyah Hamlett introduced the item.
Rodney Trice, Chief Equity & Engagement Officer, made the following presentation:
Slide #1
School Academic
19
Slide #2
Academic Updates
• On-time graduation rate:
93.9%, outpacing state rate of
86.9%.
• 967 graduates: New record
high count for CHCCS!
Ch,P 1Hill-C mCil saeoois I THINK(AND ACT)
Slide #3
Academic Updates
• 69.8% passing rate on all
state exams.
• Highest in all of North
Carolina.
cnol City S.h-lcIcix. m THINK(AND ACT)
Slide #4
Academic Updates
• 73.7% of CHCCS schools
earned an "A" or "B" grade,
up from 66.7% in 2022-23.
• Statewide, 27.8% earned an
"A" or "B„
Cho lHN-CanbaroCitySCF .lh I&— g THINK(AND ACT)FRUMUM
20
Slide #5
Academic Updates
• 14 CHCCS schools
Exceeded or Met Growth
expectations.
�"il-h-k I crams q THINK(AND ACT)
Slide#6
Academic Updates
• Proportion of Black students who
earned grade-level proficiency
on High School End-of-Course
tests rose by 3 percentage
points to a level higher than the
pre-Covid value.
Cnooei emCcboro Cab SCMois I"i rg THINK(AND ACT)
Slide#7
Academic Updates
• Students with disabilities and
economically disadvantaged
students exceeded growth
expectations at rates that
surpassed their statewide peers.
cna,ai ffl1—m cryscnods 1 cha— THINK(AND ACT)
21
Slide #8
Academic Updates
• CHCCS has seen a year-over-
year increase in satisfactory
attendance (95%+) by 7o at the
elementary level and 3% at the
middle school level.
cnop,IH,11C—h—Co tys,nooi, h,,, ,g THINK(AND ACT)
Slide #9
THINK (AND i
DIFFERENTLY
4,
70
Commissioner McKee asked the percentage of black students was achieving proficiency
before this current year. He said he would like to see this information for all student groups.
Rodney Trice said he will get that information to the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how the district compares to surrounding counties and
the state when comparing the demographic groups. She also asked what the attendance rate is
for students at the Phoenix Academy.
Rodney Trice said he would send that information to the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Fowler asked if the schools would be open to hosting community
conversations about phone use among students and within schools.
Nyah Hamlett said that they would be happy to participate. She said that they have
updated their phone use policies in the current school year. She said that they are lucky they do
not have a lot of elementary age students using them.
Commissioner Fowler encouraged further discussion of this topic.
Danielle Jones of Orange County Schools said they are exploring options in their policies
as well.
22
Commissioner Fowler said that studies show that schools that have stricter cell phone
polices show that students have less mental health issues.
b. Orange County Schools
Sheldon Lanier, Chief Equity and Student Achievement Officer, made the following
presentation:
Slide #1
Orange
County
4 Schools
2024 State Accountability
„..
EnrollmentResults
• Vacancies
rn.>n i.r.CNALLFNCF.INB PI RE.
R
Slide #2
School Performance Grades (SPG)
■
Achievement
Measures performance at a
point in time during the
school year.Students are
;I' proficient if they score a
level 3 or higher.
Growth
SchaelGrovith Measures the amount of
academic progress
students make between
two points in time,usually
the academic school year.
dim ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.INSPIRE.
10
23
Slide #3
School PerformanceGrades
ESSA Accountability Model
School Performance Grades
ELEMENTARYIMIDDLE SCHOOLSCHOOLS
ELA/READING EOG SCORES ENGLISH II EOC SCORES
80% MATH COURSE RIGOR(MATH III EOC)
ACTIWORKKEYS
COHORT GRADUATION RATE(CGR)
ENGLISH LEARNERS PROGRESS
measuFed through
MATH EOG SCORES MATH 1 OR MATH It1 EOC SCORES
NC MATH 1 EOC SCORES BIOLOGY EOC SCORES
SCIENCE EOC SCORES
WIDA access at grades 3 8 and 10 only for SPG;excludes not year students
=SCHODL PERFORMANCE GRADE
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
Slide
115-Oolnl scalel
.I
District Accountabilit Results
Y
24
Slide#5
School Performance Grades
Achievement+Growth
2017-2018 2018-2019 2021-2022
4 JL%� 4
� 5
B C • D • F
ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.INSPIRE.
12
Sheldon Lanier said that for the past two years, Orange County has had zero `IF" schools.
Slide #6
School Performance Grades
Li Achievement+Growth
2022-2023 2023-2024
ot3OL 3
7
00 C • 0 OF
ENRAGE.CHALLENGE.INSPIRE.
u
Slide#7
EVAAS Growth Status
2017-2018 2018-2019 2021-2022
a �
JC4 0!" 00
•Not Met Met Exceeded
eD ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.INSPIRE,
5
Sheldon Lanier said that years 2017-2019 only shows 12 schools due to Partnership
Academy. He said they have reduced the number of schools that did not meet and increased
schools that meet or exceed growth.
25
Slide#8
EVAAS Growth Status
■
2022-2023 2023-2024
3 4
I 8
6
• Not Met Met 9 Exceeded
ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.INSPIRE.
16
Slide #9
[0: OCS State Rankings: Peer Districts
2023-24 Percent of Schools Meeting+Exceeding Growth
District %Exceeded Met Exceeded+Met #Exceeded #Met #Not Met
722% 26 8 18 10
Chapel .• . 77-13 14 8 6 4
57.9% 11 5 6 8
82-4% 42 17 25 9
872% 41 26 6
92.3% 12
72]% 8 4 3
80-0% 16 3 13 4
85.3% 163 76
ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.INSPIRE.
17
Sheldon Lanier said that Orange County growth rates are the highest when compared to
other districts in the region.
26
Slide #10
Overall Grade Level Proficiency (GLP)
2023-24
�fe,aa�
Domain
Mam ni
Overall55%
Math III
67% mami
Math I
English 11
Math(Grades 8-8)
Reading(Grades 3-8)
3456
63%
56% alam(claeee aat
5056
Re i,(-d-38(
OY 20% 90h fimk
201"/-16 M1&2019 N 20-21 0 2022-23 0 2920-2e
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
18
Slide #11
Overall Grade Level Proficiency (GLP)
Subgroup Comparison
r Sublytoup Tested Proficient GLP Percentage Change barn22-23 to 2324
ALL9,602 54.9 an
Asian177 71.8 A--
Black
1,415 36.7 ei.9k
Hispanic
Multi-racial695 54.7 M.mZI
White4,470 70.8 wh"
Academically r 2,309 94.8 Al.
Economfcally Disadvantaged 4,886 37.7 E°s
Limited English Proficient1,423 17.5 ELs
Student Disabilities 1,405 1 B.8 swu
*American Indian GLP:Total YOY change was 1 student from 22123(17 total tested)to 23/24(16 total tested)
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
,.I_ 19
27
Slide#12
English Learner (EL) Progress
• The Every Student Succeeds Act(ESSA) requires each state to provide an annual assessment
of English language proficiency to all students identified as English Learners(EL).
• In North Carolina,the annual assessment is the World-class Instructional Design and
Assessment(WIDA)ACCESS for ELLs 2.0(ACCESS).
• Under ESSA, EL progress must be measured and reported for all ELs in grades K-12.
Orange County Schools N/A 16.1 q 22.7% 24%
North Carolina N/A 21.1% 24.9% 27.3%
AnENGAGE.CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
20
Slide #13
High School College and Career Ready (CCR)
Indicator Comparison
, .
4-year Cohort Graduation Rate 85.8 89 84.2 90.8 87.8 79.7
Math Course Rigor 92.2 92.3 Not Reported >95 >95 >95
ACT* 60.6 62.2 62.1 52.1 43 44
ACT WorkKeys 70.1 66 73.8 71.9 69.3 66.1
ACT/ACT WorkKeys* 72.2 69.3 Not Reported 60 64.2 59.6
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
.I_ 21
28
Slide#14
Celebrations
La
Slide #15
Schools Moving Out of
Low-Performing Status
2024-2025
Grady Brown Elementary School 1
School Grade C J
Gravelly Hill Middle School
School Grade C
New Hope Elementary School
School Grade C
ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.INSPIRE,
23
Slide #16
Highest EVAAS Growth Index
2024-2025
Cedar Ridge High School +9.09 J
New Hope Elementary School +7.15
Orange High School +2.93
[NG AGE.-ALL-E.INSPIRE.
2e
29
Slide #17
Schools Moving from Not Meeting to
Meeting Growth
2024-2025
Central Elementary School
Orange High School
Pathways Elementary School
EN GIGE.LHALLE NGE.IN SPIR E.
25
Slide #18
Celebrations-Academic Growth
2024-2025
LCedar Ridge High School-Ranked 35th in the state!
New Hope Elementary School-Ranked 78th in the state!
Both schools ranked in the top 3 percent out of 2,593 schools!
,`�� ENG<G E.LN RLLEXGE_IXGPIR E.
28
Jeffrey Koweek, Chief Human Resources Officer for Orange County Schools, continued
the presentation:
Slide #19
30
Slide #20
Hiring at a Glance
■ Vacancy Data
20th
Day Day Day
Core Classroom Teachers 2 2 0
7.5 7.5 6.5
3 3 1
Classroom5 5 5 .. : 4 0 1 2
Teachers ... 1 1 1
School •p• 2 2 1
Exceptional Children5 6 5 •' 1 1 0
0 0 0 I 1 2 3 3
6 6 2
0 0 0 . 0 0 1
0 0 0 4 4 2
17.5 20.5 19.5 21 23 13
!_`11 ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
25
Jeffrey Koweek said that the certified vacancy rate is better than in the previous year.
Slide #21
I
2024-2025 Certified Staff Recruitment
■
Years of Experience
6-13 years Welcomed 106 new certified staff
members:
• —50%from 0-5 years experience
20+years 188� 0-5years • 28 Beginning Teachers
56.5°.b
• —53%working under Alternative
14-19years 87 or Provisional Licensure
GRANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS 200E_KIng51ree1 Hillshorough,North Carolina 27272 919.732.8126 —W.ORANGEC^i:''
29
Sheldon Lanier said that employees coming in under Alternative or Provisional Licensure
need extra support.
31
Slide #22
■
All Certified Employee Experience
0-4 Years 0-4 years=21.4%
20+Years
29.8% .77e� 2ta3 5-10 years=20.2ne
11-19 years=28.59%
20.23% 5-10 Years 20+years=2937%
28.59
77-79 Years 20.2%
28.6%
ev•xx£eeuxty se Neeks took_ g -NIs�.�gn,Nehnaa.oLe Yls]e-919]32 ui15 ww w_evixa£ee uxx rGlvs G_eeM
30
Slide#23
■ OCS Strategic Plan
Priority#3 Exemplary Staff:
Recruit, hire,support, and retain culturally proficient and
high-quality staff committed to providing all students with an
excellent education in a welcoming environment.
Equity Emphasis (See Equity Goa!#4):
Hire and retain staff that reflects the diversity of the district,
mirrors the demographics of the OCS student population,and who
are committed to becoming culturally proficient.
1 ENGAGE.CHALLENGE,INSPIRE.
31
Slide #24
■
OCS Strategic Plan Update
Current Demographic Information
Staff Students
American Indian 0.15% 0.24%
Asian 0.59% 1.83%
Black 14.81% 14.13%
Hispanic 6.30% 27.88%
White 76.10% 48.509
Multi-Racial 2.05% 7
ENGAGE,CHALLENGE.INSPIRE.
32
32
Slide#25
■
OCS Action Items
• Creation of retention focus groups
• Increasing NBCT support for candidates
(from 2 to 18)
• Fall Certified Interns (from 5 to 29)
ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.IN-1 NE.
99
Slide #26
' •
Commissioner Richards asked what the plan is for employees working under provisional
licensure.
Jeffrey Koweek said they must monitor those employees and provide more support to
make sure that everyone is successful.
Danielle Jones said that when teachers are on a provisional license, there are
requirements from the state on what they must do.
Commissioner Richards asked what the time frame is.
Jeffrey Koweek said that the provisional license timeframe is three years, and the
alternative license is one year but they both have different steps they are required to meet.
Commissioner Richards asked if there is a salary differentiation.
Jeffrey Koweek said they are considered licensed teachers.
Commissioner Richards asked Sheldon Lanier for more information about slide #11. She
asked if Black students are one of the lowest in proficiency.
Sheldon Lanier said that there has been an increase of 2.2% from the previous school
year to 23-24 for Black students.
Commissioner Richards said she is trying to understand the trend. She asked if there was
a dip in COVID.
Sheldon Lanier said that he does not have that information but would be able to provide it
to the Board.
33
Chair Bedford asked how many years they have been doing dual language at New Hope
and if they think that it is one of the reasons for the accelerated growth.
Sheldon Lanier said he did not know how many years they have had dual language but
that he believes one of the reasons for accelerated growth is due to the brilliance of the building
leader, Dr. Meredith Meyer.
Sarah Smylie said she thinks the dual language program has been going on for about six
years.
Danielle Jones said the first cohort is in 6th grade this year.
Bonnie Hauser said that the leadership is doing amazing work in the school.
Vice-Chair Greene asked if 53% of alternative or provisional licenses is a high percentage.
Jeffrey Koweek said that he did not know but in Durham, it was higher, but he does not
have the data from other districts.
Vice-Chair Greene asked what characterizes teachers who come to education mid-career.
Jeffrey Koweek said it is not just one characterization it is many things. He said that there
is a TA to Teach program, people change careers, a lot are younger, and some are just moving
into education.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked them to talk a little bit about what they are doing to
improve the numbers of the Black students that is different than has been done before.
Sheldon Lanier said that their plan is to collect and monitor data. He said all principals
have gone through a goal setting process and are keenly aware of the benchmarks that they need
to meet. He said that based on those goals, teachers have their own goals. He said that principals
are having conversations with students so that they know where they are at. He said that it is
new and there needs to be a mind shift to help coach and provide feedback to principals doing
this work. He said that these may not have been in place in prior years.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if the mind shift was for students or staff.
Sheldon Lanier said that it was for both.
Anne Purcell thanked the Board of Commissioners for the opportunity to talk and praised
Danielle Jones and her staff for the work they are doing.
Carrie Doyle gave a shoutout for the equal opportunity schools and the relationships they
have, and this really highlighted the work of Black students, especially in high school and the work
they have been doing.
Adjournment
A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to
adjourn the meeting at 9:07 p.m.
VOTE: UNANIMOUS
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Recorded by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board
Submitted for approval by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board