MINUTES

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

COUNTY OF HENDERSON JUNE 1, 2006

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners met for a special called meeting at 5:00 p.m. in the Commissioners' Conference Room of the Henderson County Office Building.

Those present were: Chairman Bill Moyer, Vice-Chairman Charlie Messer, Commissioner Larry Young, Commissioner Shannon Baldwin, County Manager Steven Wyatt, Assistant County Manager Selena Coffey, County Attorney Russell Burrell, and Clerk to the Board Elizabeth W. Corn.

Also present were: Members of the Board of Education including Chairman Ervin Bazzle, Deputy Clerk to the Board Amy Brantley, Assistant County Manager Justin Hembree, and Finance Director J. Carey McLelland.

Commissioner Chuck McGrady was expected to arrive late to the meeting.

CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME

Chairman Moyer called the meeting to order and welcomed all in attendance. He explained that this was a continuation of the budget workshop held last Thursday, May 25, and was scheduled to hear the School Board give their budget presentation regarding their issues and concerns.

FY 2006-2007 BUDGET - SCHOOLS

Chairman Ervin Bazzle reviewed with the Board Power Point presentations, one on the current expense budget and one on the capital outlay budget.

He stated that they are operating under the strategic plan that started development in December of 1999. At that time it established four goals which have turned into five goals because it has grown over the years:

Goal I: Focus on every child.

Objective A: Create significantly higher levels of expectations for each child.

Objective B: Close the performance gap for under-performing students.

Objective C: Enrich, extend and ensure mastery of the Standard Course of Study

Goal II: Provide an effective teaching and learning environment.

Objective A: Retain and recruit outstanding faculty and staff.

Objective B: Enrich and extend the school counseling program.

Objective C: Retain and recruit sufficient, quality support staff.

Goal III: Lower Class Size.

Objective A: Continue to implement and refine the long-range plan for lowering

class size.

Objective B: Provide corresponding support services and staff.

Objective C: Continue to communicate the significance of lowering class size.

Goal IV: Develop and maintain safe, quality facilities.

Objective A: Plan for future construction and renovation.

Objective B: Provide resources to respond quickly to maintenance and

custodial needs.

Objective C: Implement safe school plan.

Goal V: Strengthen and facilitate communication.

Objective A: Make the schools centers of the community.

Objective B: Utilize technology as a major communication tool.

Objective C: Develop and implement a communication plan.

Objective D: Identify and emphasize the communication component in everyone’s job.

Mr. Bazzle stressed the need for several new positions. Some positions discussed were: Two teachers for children with special needs, Two teachers for English as a second language, and Two aides for English as a second language.

He stated that the proposed budget from the County Manager doesn’t fund any of these new positions. Other new positions were discussed. He stated that there were only two program requests in this budget. One has to do with software, having to do with instantaneous assessment, not only the capability of a student but also their production in class. The other is Stakeholders’ Opinion Surveys which is an opinion survey which goes out to the parents. Mr. Bazzle stressed that these are needs, not wants. If they are not funded, they will have to fill the positions and something else will go away.

Superintendent Stephen Page discussed the “uncontrollable items”. These are things that someone else has put upon them, that without county assistance, they cannot deal with. He discussed teacher raises, supplements, increase in retirement utilities, and local sales tax.

Mr. Bazzle briefly discussed capital outlay and stated that he did not understand. The amount of money they are given to maintain their grounds and facilities is totally inadequate, by any standards. They maintain:

21 schools, bus garage, central office, service center, warehouse

over 1.9 million sq. ft., over 630 acres, and over 100 buses and other vehicles (driving over 1 million miles/year)

Their facilities are utilized by:

over 12,000 students, over 1,600 employees, and the citizens of Henderson County.

He shared pictures of the needed renovations, repairs, and improvements that need to be done at many of the schools. Additional projects were also listed.

Chairman Moyer raised the question whether we could show that our students are making progress in math and science. He was told that they could show that, they would get the data for the Board.

Commissioner McGrady arrived

Commissioner Chuck McGrady arrived at 5:46 p.m.

The Board of Education members answered several questions from the Board of Commissioners.

Procedure the Board of Commissioners will follow

Chairman Moyer explained that the Board will have the public hearing on the budget next Monday, June 5 at 7:00. The Board will then take into consideration this meeting, what is heard at the public hearing, what they heard from the first budget workshop and other information. The Board will determine at that time what it’s next step will be. The Board may need to set additional meetings.

Chairman Moyer thanked the School Board for their attendance and involvement this evening. Chairman Moyer stated that the Board’s goal is to have the best educated children and the best school system that we can possibly have.

Adjourn

Commissioner Baldwin made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:03 p.m. All voted in favor and the motion carried.

Attest:

Elizabeth W. Corn, Clerk to the Board William L. Moyer, Chairman