Johnston County
Board
of Education report from April 29 session |
 |
Board members present: Chairman Mike Wooten, Teresa Grant, Ronald Johnson,
Terri Sessoms, Peggy Smith, Todd Sutton, Tracie Zukowski
Absent: None
What's new in the superintendent's
proposed school budget for
2019-20?
Superintendent Ross Renfrow's proposed local school budget adds up to $84,665,310. The current year's appropriation from the County Commissioners was $63,563,852 for current expenses and capital-outlay projects.
School board members at Monday's budget session made it clear they want an increase in teacher supplements ahead of anything else that requires additional money from the county in the year ahead.
Declared board member Terri Sessoms: "I want that 1% supplement increase a priority" if the County commissioners don't fund the school board's entire budget request. "Don't touch it," added board member Ronald Johnson. "We didn't increase our supplements last year; it's vital we do it this year," board member Todd Sutton noted.
Currently, Johnston's teacher supplements range from 10.5% of base pay for teachers with less than nine years' experience to 13.5% for teachers with at least 25 years of service. Over the years Johnston's school boards have sought to stay competitive in the region. Wake County leads the way with supplements starting at 17.75%.
Besides the supplement increase for all teachers, Dr. Renfrow's budget calls for an additional 2% supplement for teachers in so-called "restart," or low-performing, schools that show improvement on end-of-grade tests. The price tag for those supplements is $2.1 million.
Another $1.5 million in new funding is proposed for increased "instructional resources" for classroom teachers. Deputy Superintendent Paula Coates said Johnston's school system needs to purchase "a standard curriculum resource" targeting reading and math instruction.
The superintendent's proposal calls for hiring 53 more full-time school-bus drivers to reduce the system's reliance on teacher assistants, especially, to cover more than 1,200 routes driven daily. Currently, Johnston's schools employ 75 full-time drivers, and would need 470 total to cover all the routes. Price tag for the 53 additional drivers in the year ahead is $536,762.
Another $511,600 is included in Dr. Renfrow's proposal for more overtime pay for custodians, who he said are "more likely" to be substitute bus drivers if the extra pay is budgeted.
One other payroll addition in the proposed budget is $350,000 to raise "trade salaries" --- to make wages for HVAC technicians, electricians, plumbers, and diesel mechanics employed by Johnston's schools more competitive to reduce turnover.
The superintendent's budget includes 5% raises for all county-paid teachers and employees of Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS). That's assuming the N.C. General Assembly this spring budgets raises of that magnitude for state-paid teachers and other school employees. (The bulk of funding to operate Johnston's schools, including salaries for most teachers, comes from state appropriations determined by the Legislature.)
"We're not asking for a Cadillac with all the bells and whistles," said board member Johnson about the local budget request to County Commissioners. "We need to keep our kids learning ... and our employees working." Board member Tracie Zukowski noted: "We're listening to what our schools (and) our parents are asking for." Added board member Sessoms: "Teachers are very excited about being asked what they need."
During Monday's session, board members expressed frustration with a state formula that provides financial aid for "Exceptional Children" --- those who are handicapped both physically and mentally. The state provides funding based on 12.5% of a district's students in the "exceptional" category, but Johnston County identifies about 16% of its students in need of special services at a cost approaching $7.4 million in county funds beyond what the state provides.
That means almost 10% of Johnston's local school budget is going to educate the county's "EC" students, Board Chairman Mike Wooten noted. But, he added, "I'm proud we're a county that looks after our EC population."
Proposed school budget posted on JCPS website>
Editorial comment regarding the proposed budget>
RETURN TO THE SMITHFIELD WEEKLY SUN FRONT PAGE