BOE approves tentative budget; adopts changes to handbooks

A tentative FY 2008 General Fund Budget of $12,352,324 was approved by the Lincoln County Board of Education at its regular meeting held Tuesday, June 5.

Although the budget represents a $441,220 increase over last year's budget of $11,911,104, it is expected that the millage rate will remain the same.

The original budget, presented to the board by Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools, and system comptroller Kaye Bufford, contained a deficit of $649,074 in the revenue column.

According to the superintendent, the major expenses addressed in the budget were:

.. Three-percent raises for all certificated personnel, bus drivers, and school food service workers as mandated by the state. The board also included raises for teachers whose positions are not funded by FTE earnings, paraprofessionals, maintenance and custodial workers, and secretaries.

It will take about $400,000 in local tax dollars to fund all of the raises. The figure likewise covers step raises, based on years of experience, and "upgrade raises" which are given when teachers obtain advanced degrees.

"Salaries and benefits comprise 79 percent of the total budget," stated Dr. Edmunds.

.. Approximately $200,000 in local tax dollars to replace the roof at LCES. This figure, which was added to the $203,865 already in the budget, will be supplemented by roughly $500,000 in state capital outlay funds.

.. $156,950 for maintenance projects at all three schools, including the installation of air conditioning units in the main building at LCES, painting several classrooms at LCMS, and repairs to the entrance of the high school.

.. Close to $108,000 to cover the employer's share of the cost of employee health insurance. The premiums increased roughly two percent this year.

"The problem is that it will cost more money to run the schools than it did last year," said Superintendent Edmunds. "Hopefully, we will get it to the point where we won't have to raise the millage rate every year."

According to Dr. Robert Williams, board chairman, "Last year, we had a cushion - a surplus in the fund balance. Although the budget increased about half a million, we still were able to cut the millage rate. And now, the system says it needs $649,000 more. If we're going to do this every year for the next five years, where is the money going to come from?"

In his comments, board member Wayne Williford stated, "We owe it to the people of the county. I can't see increasing the millage rate when we're building a new school."

Gail Remsen, also a member of the board, agreed with Williford.

To keep from increasing the millage rate, the board trimmed $649,074 from the budget by:

(1) Deleting the proposed retaining wall and wheelchair ramp at LCHS at a savings of $80,000.

(2) Reducing the fund balance by $200,000, from $750,000 to $550,000.

(3) Deleting $366,125 from the local cost of replacing the roof at LCES. The deletion was possible because the system is only required to kick in a certain percentage in order to obtain the state money.

(4) Deleting $3,000 to cover the cost of fingerprinting for system employees. All employees must submit to fingerprinting and a background check every five years.

The board will meet Monday, June 25, at 6 p.m. to finalize the budget.

In other business, the board approved the following revisions to the student handbooks for LCES, LCMS, and LCHS:

LCES

.. The handbook includes changes to the dress code to bring it more in line with what is being done at the middle school.

Specifically, the dress code will prohibit students from wearing halter tops, string tops, low-cut tops, shorts that are too short, and clothes that have holes or tears above the knees. Also, students must tuck in their shirttails; exceptions to this rule are outlined in the dress code.

"We don't want to send anybody home; we just want to emphasize appropriate attire," said LCES Principal Marilyn Bell, adding that the way students dress at times affects the learning environment.

.. The handbook features a new section dealing with assembly etiquette which includes the following rules, among others:

(1) "Movement into and out of the gym and/or auditorium should be in an orderly fashion with no running, pushing, loud talking or crowding."

(2) "Talking during any kind of program is rude and will not be allowed."

.. The handbook has been revised to incorporate changes in the discipline policy that were previously made at the system level and were already in effect at LCES.

.. The handbook outlines changes in the promotion and retention policy adopted by the board later in the meeting.

In the past, students who had a failing average in two or more subjects were retained. The new policy states that in order to be promoted, students must pass reading and mathematics with an average of 70 or above and have a passing average of 70 or above in two of the following subjects - spelling, English, science or social studies. Students in grades 3 and 4 must also meet state requirements in reading on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). Fifth-graders must meet state requirements in both reading and mathematics on the CRCT.

LCMS

.. The handbook features changes to the dress code which state that shirts designed to be worn as undergarments as well as leggings should not be worn alone. Also, students are prohibited from wearing pants legs tucked into shoes or socks.

Furthermore, girls' shoulder straps must be a minimum of one-inch wide, and no cleavage should be exposed.

.. The revised handbook strengthens penalties for the use of obscene words, indecent exposure, possession of cell phones and other electronic devices, the use of tobacco products, and inappropriate public displays of affection.

.. The handbook outlines changes in the promotion and retention policy adopted by the board later in the meeting.

Previously, all middle school students had to pass at least five subjects and successfully complete the remediation/enrichment block to be promoted to the next grade. This will continue to hold true for sixth and eighth-graders; however, due to the addition of a reading class to the seventh grade curriculum, these students must past a minimum of six classes to be promoted to the eighth grade.

As for eighth-graders, they must also pass the reading and mathematics portions of the CRCT for promotion to the next grade.

The handbook further states that eligibility for extra-curricular activities will be determined by annual grades.

LCHS

.. The handbook has been revised to prohibit graduating seniors from marching until they have paid their debts.

+ The handbook strengthens the consequences of excessive absences stating that:

(1) Any student who is absent from any class more than eight days will lose his parking privileges for the semester. Parking permits are non-refundable.

(2) Seniors who miss more than eight days of school during the spring semester will not be allowed to march at graduation. They may receive their diploma only after appeal committee recommendations have been met.

(3) Any student missing more than eight days of the fall or spring semester may not attend the prom.

.. The new high school handbook contains the same guidelines as LCMS in regard to leggings, shoulder straps, and cleavage.

.. The handbook strengthens the penalties for the use of obscene words, cheating, tardiness, possession of cell phones and other electronic devices, activating a fire alarm under false pretenses or making a bomb threat, and inappropriate public displays of affection.

In further business, Superintendent Edmunds informed the board that 100 percent of the regular students at LCHS taking the Georgia High School Graduation Test for the first time passed the mathematics portion of the test. The percentages for the state and the 13 counties served by the CSRA Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) were 94 and 95 percent, respectively.

"The teachers and students at LCHS are doing a great job," said the superintendent, adding that the percentage of students passing the other content areas on the test was at or above the RESA average.

Also during the meeting, the board:

+ Was informed by Dr. Edmunds that LCMS Principal Pam Carmichael was named one of the state's "High Performance Principals" due to the increase in test scores at the middle school.

"We appreciate all of the hard work that has been done at LCMS to get the test scores up," said the superintendent.

.. Discussed legislative action regarding class size flexibility and the need for the local board to choose a maximum class size for high school classes in math, science, social studies, and language arts. The board voted to exercise its option to limit class sizes to a maximum of 32 students in the four core curriculum areas listed above.

.. Voted to designate technology equipment, including several servers, as surplus equipment. The group also gave technology coordinator Guy McDeavitt the authority to donate some of the surplus equipment to Lincoln County and offer the remainder for public sale.

.. Held the second reading of revisions to the Promotion and Retention of Students in Grades K-12 Policy, including an amendment containing changes to the LCMS promotion and retention guidelines. The revised policy was approved as read.

.. Held a review of the following policies: Honors Program - Valedic- torian and Salutatorian, Special Education, Instructional Services, School Ceremonies and Observances, Drug and Alcohol Use, and Off-Campus Conduct. The policies were left unchanged.

.. Discussed the need for better lunches at LCMS/LCHS and as a result, Superintendent Edmunds offered to have personnel from the state review the situation in Lincoln County and make recommendations.

.. Reviewed quarterly financial reports for the schools for the period from January 1, 2007, through March 31, 2007; the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) Fund for the period ending May 31, 2007; and the General Fund for the period from July 1, 2006, through May 31, 2007.

Dr. Edmunds pointed out that the new SPLOST goes into effect July 1.

.. Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate on the employment of personnel. Upon returning to regular session, the board:

.. Voted to approve Jennie McWhorter for a teaching position at LCES for the 2007-2008 school year.

.. Voted to approve Lacey Reed for a teaching position at LCES for the 2007-2008 school year.

.. Voted to approve David Godsey for a teaching position at LCHS for the 2007-2008 school year.

The meeting was recessed until Monday, June 11, at which time, the board reviewed bids for the LCHS reroofing project.

During the meeting, the board voted to accept the low bid of $385,000 submitted by Commercial Roof Management Services, Inc. of Bogart to replace the roof at LCES.

If all goes as planned, work on the project will begin June 21.

In other business, the board heard a presentation made by Ficklen Guin, school food services and transportation director.

In his remarks, Guin explained the state and federal regulations and how they impact the food services program at all three schools.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the board agreed to hire a secretary to assist the director with the copious amount of paperwork and filing involved in administering both the lunch and transportation programs.

After voting to accept the retirements of secretaries Lynn Aycock (effective June 30, 2007) and Brenda Leopard (effective July 31, 2007), the board voted to hire both ladies to work part time to assist with the nutrition and transportation programs.

Replacements for Aycock and Leopard will be hired at a later date.

The board then recessed until Monday, June 25.

The next regular meeting of the board will be held Tuesday, July 17, at 7 p.m. at the board office on Metasville Road.