Call to order

The meeting was called to order and a quorum ascertained at 6:05 p.m.

Approve Agenda

Review Draft Budget Sustainability

FY26 Budget Draft Review

The meeting focused on the draft budget for the next fiscal year, highlighting changes in revenue and expenditures. Ms. Lee explained that student activity fees and after-school program revenues were removed due to unclear expenditure estimates, while field trips remain fully funded by students. The proposed revenue for FY26 is $7.6 million from QBE earnings and $817,288 from federal grants, with Title I funds still pending reduction updates. Salaries and benefits were discussed, including a $2,500 increase for full-time positions, a $1,250 increase for part-time positions, and potential step increases of 1.5%, totaling approximately $90,000 with benefits.

DPA Salary Scale Standardization

The meeting focused on addressing inconsistencies in the placement of staff members on the approved DPA salary scale based on their certifications. Ms. Lee highlighted the need for a work session to establish parameters and create a standard operating procedure to ensure consistency in salary steps and placement. Ms. Young emphasized that the issue was known beforehand, as emails were sent in January requesting certifications and transcripts, and completing this process was necessary for accurate and fair budgeting. Dr. Bostic agreed, noting that there are various scenarios to consider.

Teacher Salary Certification Disparities

The discussion focused on addressing salary disparities among teachers, particularly regarding certification status and degree levels. Dr. Bostic emphasized the need for individual conversations with staff members to assess their certification status, while Ms. Young highlighted the importance of fairness and the potential risks of adjusting salaries. Ms. Lee noted that the current budget constraints have frozen salary adjustments and proposed aligning salaries with DPA policy, which does not provide options for uncertified teachers with advanced degrees.

Staffing Policies and Budget Amendments

The committee discussed staffing policies and budget adjustments. Ms. Lee proposed creating scenarios for a work session to clarify standard operating procedures, which Ms. Young agreed to review. They agreed to have Ms. Lee prepare 2-3 scenarios by Thursday or Friday for Ms. Young to review by Saturday morning. Ms. Lee also updated the committee on budget amendments, noting a decline in contractor costs and an increase in software expenses. She explained that only certain line items would require justification pages, and the final budget would remain in draft form until staffing and salary scale parameters are established.

Registration Numbers and Budget Scenarios

Ms. Young requested Dr. Bostic to provide updated registration numbers by Friday evening or Saturday morning, and Ms. Rodgers clarified that the budget is typically based on lottery numbers and completed registrations due to various factors and that the School Registrar, Ms. Reid, is the best person to ask. Dr. Bostic agreed to gather the updated numbers, and Ms. Young mentioned preparing three budget scenarios based on salary steps and increases for further discussion.

Employee Pay and Credentialing Policy

There was discussion regarding potential salary adjustments for employees whose credentials did not initially meet requirements. Ms. Lee and Dr. Bostic agreed that reducing employees' pay would not be appropriate, and instead suggested grandfathering in current pay rates while implementing stricter verification processes for future hires. They also mentioned that a new streamlined onboarding process through ADP is being established to prevent future credentialing issues. Dr. Bostic noted that new hire salaries were included in the budget presentation, with final numbers expected after academic review on Saturday.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

The Meeting was Adjourned

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:28 pm