Johnston County
Board
of Education report from Oct. 8 meeting |
 |
Board members present:
Chairman Mike Wooten, Teresa Grant, Ronald Johnson, Terri Sessoms,
Peggy Smith, Todd Sutton
Absent: Tracie Zukowski
Superintendent, staff looking at ways
to eliminate $10-million
funding shortage
In his "five-week report" on major matters he has faced since taking office, Interim Superintendent Jim Causby told the Board of Education Tuesday that he and his staff are working to balance the school system's budget for 2019-20 without hurting the basic mission of educating its students.
"We're doing everything we can not to touch the classroom," he said.
Dr. Causby told the board that $8 million of the $10 million shortfall in the pending budget can be attributed to the state's formula reimbursing school systems for the expense of educating "exceptional children" with physical and mental handicaps. The state's aid is based on 12.75% of a system's student population, but 17% of Johnston's students are classified as "exceptional," which means county funds must be used to cover the difference, the superintendent noted.
Besides cutting items out of the system's pending budget, Dr. Causby said he is talking with county commissioners and the county manager about increasing the county's appropriation of $69 million to Johnston's schools this fiscal year. "I believe they will react in a positive matter," he said.
Prior to adoption of the county budget in June, former Superintendent Ross Renfrow and the school board had asked the County Commissioners to provide $84 million to balance the schools' proposed budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. The school system's budget is currently in limbo, awaiting approval of the state budget that provides the bulk of funding for local operations, especially salaries for teachers.
"I'm very disappointed in our previous superintendent," school board member Todd Sutton said Tuesday in reaction to Dr. Causby's report. "As a board member I can only act on the information that is presented to me," Mr. Sutton added.
Other board members echoed that sentiment and thanked the interim chief for identifying the system's fiscal deficiencies. "Dr. Causby, we appreciate the transparency," said board member Teresa Grant.
"We've got the right one piloting the plane now," board member Ron Johnson said of the interim superintendent, who has agreed to serve through the current school year in the wake of Dr. Renfrow's board-forced retirement in late August. Dr. Causby previously served as Johnston's superintendent from 1994 through 2003.
SUPERINTENDENT'S FOCUS: ACHIEVEMENT AND EQUITY
Another element of Dr. Causby's "five-week report" to the school board was a pledge to focus on student achievement and "equity" in the system's treatment of both students and employees. "We want everyone to rise," he said.
In Tuesday's audience were leaders of the Johnston County Education Summit, a group of African-Americans who've been critical of the system's lack of minorities in positions of administrative leadership in the central office as well as the schools. "I share their goal --- equity." Dr. Causby said. "I'll work very strongly to make that happen."
REINSTATEMENT OF CLAYTON HIGH'S PRINCIPAL
Superintendent Causby also commented on his handling of former Superintendent Renfrow's unpopular reassignment of Clayton High School's Principal Bennett Jones to a position in the central office in August. "It has taken a lot of time" to resolve that issue, Dr. Causby told the board, but "I got to know a lot of people" in the process, adding that folks on both sides of the issue were "gracious" and "mannerly" as he talked with them.
On Monday of this week, Superintendent Causby announced that he was re-instating Dr. Jones as Clayton High's principal, effective next Monday (Oct. 14).
"Dr. Jones will be on a probationary basis during the 2019-20 school year with the task of addressing all issues revealed during the review," the superintendent's statement read. "I have presented him with specific requirements that must be met to my satisfaction. His achievement or lack of achievement," Dr. Causby continued, "will determine my future decisions on his employment and assignment."
Dr. Causby's statement did not list "issues revealed during the review." Clayton High recently reported problems with graduation requirements affecting a handful of students in the Class of 2019. Earlier this year, allegations arose concerning fixing of grades for athletes at the school, and the head football coach resigned following the reassignment of Principal Jones by former Superintendent Renfrow.
During the "public comment" portion of Tuesday's meeting, Clayton High junior Meredith Roberson thanked Dr. Causby and the board for the reinstatement of the school's principal --- news that brought "pure joy" to the student body, she said. Parent Kim Winslow followed with a complaint that the handling of the situation by the county's school administrators has cast "a dark black cloud" over Principal Jones and the school. "JCPS was irresponsible in issuing misleading statements and allowing ... rumors to continue without strongly shutting them down, to the point that it was created such a toxic environment in the court of public opinion," Ms. Winslow stated. READ the full text of her prepared remarks>
AN UPDATE ON RECRUITING NEW TEACHERS
Johnston's school system hired 310 new teachers this summer but still had 49 vacancies the first of this week, reported Brian Vetrano, director of human resources and financial services. Of those new hires, 14.5% are African-Americans and 6.2% are Hispanics, he said, noting that 16% of Johnston's students are African-American and 22% Hispanic. "Our goal is to mirror our student population," Mr. Vetrano said. "Are we where we want to be? No, but we're happy with the small steps we've taken." Mr. Vetrano also reported on recruiting efforts, noting that his staff attends a of number out-of-state job fairs at universities in New York and Pennsylvania, especially. "Twenty percent of the individuals we hire come from out of state," he said.
NEW RULES FOR SPEAKERS TABLED TILL NEXT MONTH
At the outset of Tuesday's open session, the board voted to table consideration of a revised policy for allowing citizens to address the board at its monthly meetings. Currently, speakers are required to register the week before a meeting and provide a written transcript of their remarks at that time. The proposed new policy would allow speakers to sign up as late as a meeting's starting time, and they would be required to "furnish statements, written information, or provide the topic at the time of sign-up." Board member Peggy Smith said postponing adoption for a month will give the public more time to "give us your feedback" on the new rules. "We want to make sure we do it right," she said.
LATER STARTING TIME FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS?
Later during the session, Superintendent Causby suggested the board consider starting its monthly meetings later in the afternoon. Currently, the board convenes at 2 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month, allots the first two hours for a closed session (usually dealing with personnel matters), then begins its open "business session" at 4 p.m. with the "public comment" segment at 6 p.m. "Our constituents would like for us to start later," said board member Sutton, who suggested a 5 p.m. start for the open session. The board agreed to await a recommendation from the school system's Policy Review Committee before making a scheduling change.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS APPROVED
Without discussion, the board approved Improvement Plans for all 14 "low performing" schools in Johnston as required by the state. Details of the plans are available on each school's website. Those schools are Clayton Middle, Corinth-Holders Elementary, West Clayton Elementary, Micro Elementary, Selma Middle, South Smithfield Elementary, Polenta Elementary, Benson Middle, North Johnston Middle, Benson Elementary, West Smithfield Elementary, Smithfield Middle, Wilson's Mills Elementary, and Cooper Academy at Clayton.
SOUTH SMITHFIELD ADVISORY COUNCIL APPOINTMENT
On a recommendation from Principal Laura Makey of South Smithfield Elementary School, the board appointed Brenda Harris of Carmil Drive, Selma to a three-year term on the school's Advisory Council.
STUDENT TRANSFERS APPROVED AND DENIED
As part of its "consent agenda" requiring no discussion, the board approved and denied numerous requests for reassignment of students to schools outside the attendance districts where they reside. As was the case last month, this month's list includes a large number of students assigned to the Innovation Academy at South Campus and the Johnston County Career & Technical Leadership Academy for the 2019-20 academic year.
View this month's list of APPROVALS>
View the list of DENIALS>
BOARD HEARS COMPLAINT ABOUT ATHLETICS CONTRACT
Mike Rose --- operator of Quickshirts, a Princeton T-shirt printing business, who also serves as a town commissioner --- during the meeting's "public comment" segment registered a complaint about BSN Sports, a supplier of athletics merchandise that he said has gained exclusive access to Johnston's schools through no-bid contracts. He said that arrangement is "unfair to the local merchants who pay property taxes in Johnston County" and "pay money out of their pocket to sponsor school programs." He asked the board to declare the BSN contracts "non-binding, possibly illegal" that "should be dropped immediately." The board offered no response following his remarks.
READ the full text of his prepared remarks>
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