City schools eye flat budget, room for capital expenditures

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, August 22, 2018

The Cullman City School Board held the first of two public hearings for its Fiscal Year 2019 budget Tuesday evening, and the outlook does not include many changes from last year’s budget.

Cullman City Schools Chief School Finance Officer Russell Raney presented the proposed annual budget to the board, noting the revenues and expenditures are not projected to be much different from last year.

“When you compare ‘18 to ‘19, it’s a fairly flat budget,” he said.

The projected revenue for the system is up by around 3.1 percent from last year, but 2.5 percent of that comes from the state employee pay raise that was passed for this year, and the same can be said for the small increase in expenditures, Raney said.

The system will have 215 certified personnel units, which includes teachers, principals, librarians and counselors, and 206.95 of those will be funded by state, federal or another sources.

The system will also be getting more funding from the state as school enrollment grows, and that will let schools save money on personnel, Raney said.

Because the system has made an effort to keep its number of teacher units stable, that additional funding will mean there will be fewer locally funded teacher units that the system has to finance.

“As we’ve earned state units, it’s reduced our local units,” he said. 

There will be around eight locally funded teacher units, compared to around 20 from 10 years ago, and that means more of the system’s money can go toward capital improvements, technology or other projects, Raney said.

The budget may not have many changes from recent years, but things continue to look brighter for the city school system compared to the proration that schools were seeing around 10 years ago, Raney said.

“It’s a lot better than it was several years ago,” he said.

In other business, the board: 

Awarded bid #06-21-18-01 to Encore Rehabilitation, Inc. for consultant services in physical and occupational therapy.

Gave permission to contract with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Inc. for a facility assessment of all schools and a systemwide campus master plan per proposal dated July 9.

Gave permission to contract with Parker Electric to update the electrical at West Elementary School per code requirements.

Gave permission to remove carpet, refinish hardwood floors and install new tile flooring at East Elementary and West Elementary Schools.

Gave permission to contract with architect/engineer for development of preliminary drawings for baseball field renovation.

Gave permission to contract with architect/engineer for development of preliminary drawings for A/C in the Cullman High School Gym.

Gave permission to enter into an agreement with the Alabama High School Athletic Association and the City of Cullman for the State Track Meet for Classes 1A, 2A and 3A for a period of two years commencing on May 3, 2019 and May 2, 2020.

Gave permission for Cullman Middle School and Cullman High School to change exam dates on the 2018-19 CCS Calendar. Final exams for grades 7-11 moved to May 21, 22 and 23; senior exams on May 15-16.

Gave permission for Cullman High School to adopt the entire state approved textbook list for world languages.

Approved the Cullman City Primary School ACIP (Continuous Improvement Plan) 2018-19.

Approved the Community Partnership Agreement for Cullman City Head Start and Signature Smiles of Cullman for dental services for the 2018-19 school year.

Gave permission to contract with Tammy Sargent to provide special education psychometrist evaluations beginning Oct. 8 through Sept. 30, 2019.

Gave permission to contract with Erica Veal, Head Start Disabilities Manager, for maximum of five days during the 2018-19 school year to complete additional duties and requirements.

Gave permission to contract with Kalysha Whittle, Head Start Nurse, for maximum of five days during the 2018-19 school year to complete additional duties and requirements for health, nutrition and safety.

Gave permission to contract with Jonathan Peyton on a part-time as-needed basis to assist the Technology Department during the 2018-19 school year.

Approved the following personnel considerations:

Leaves of absence

Stephanie Conner, math teacher at CHS, FMLA tentatively from Feb. 14, 2019 to May 24, 2019.

Sara Beth Norrell, first grade teacher at CCPS, leave of absence from Jan. 1, 2019 to May 24, 2019.

Amber Campbell, PE teacher at East Elementary, FMLA from Aug. 29 to Sept. 26.

Employments

Chloe Harbison, temporary kindergarten teacher at CCPS (to fill a leave of absence) tentatively from Jan. 3, 2019 to May 24, 2019.

Reeta Morrow, half day special education instructional assistant, half day LPN at West Elementary School, effective Aug. 17.

Deanna Little, extended day program teacher aide at West Elementary School, effective Aug. 17.

David Chris Kennedy, computer technician II at Central Office, effective Sept. 10.

Modification of employment

Debra Ball, CNP worker at West Elementary, requesting reduction in hours from a 6.5-hour employee to a four-hour employee, effective Aug. 2.

Paul Ross, modification of employment from Computer Technician I to Computer Technician II at the current experience level.

Supplement resignation

Priscilla Henshaw, resignation of CCPS Webmaster, effective July 26.

Supplements

Hayden Faulk, support services coordinator- administrative supplement for extended hours on weekends and evenings, effective Aug. 1.

Michael Fowlkes, technology coordinator- administrative supplement to coordinate the Lean Stream Program, which includes additional hours on weekends and evenings, effective Sept. 1.

The Cullman City School Board will hold its second FY2019 budget hearing on Thursday, Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. in the Central Office Board Room, with its regular meeting following at 5 p.m.

Tyler Hanes can be reached at 256-734-2131 ext. 138.