School board elects Davis as vice chair

The school board recommended a total amended budget increase of $4,988,586.02 for a total of $187,373,372.91 for 2023-2024 at its June 5 work session.

According to Vice Chair David Hensley, the operational budget increased 55% over the last four years. He questioned whether they met the increase with an equal improvement in academic achievement.

“Last year, the budget was one hundred seventy-five million. The county commissioners increased local funding a little over four million — the first time in six years,” Hensley said.

COVID funds end in September 2024, and there is no fiscal cliff when the funds are gone. The board allocated 40% of the COVID funds to construction costs, 60% to temporary COVID nursing salaries and extensive summer school program to balance lost classroom instruction time.

The extensive summer school program will not be repeated. It will be routine summer school.

“The House did not agree with the state Senate budget. On that, we can be positive it [an agreement] will happen before July first, but historically it has not,” Superintendent Tim Locklair said.

Locklair recommended the board of commissioners and county manager advocate for the same percentage of the property tax and sales tax budget received for the 2022-2023 year.

The House recommended a 5.58% salary increase for certified teachers and instructional support, while the Senate recommended a 3.01% increase.

The 2023-2024 recommended budget presentation may be viewed here. 

Dr. Mike Metcalf, deputy superintendent, Tracy C. Metcalf, director for student support services, and Rodney Hardy, Moore County Schools police chief presented an update on discipline.

The data revealed increases in office referrals by 1,618, in-school suspensions by 913 and out-of-school suspensions by 1,325.

Bus suspensions decreased from 273 to 92.

Tracy Metcalf said bus discipline numbers were down to fewer students using the bus.

Middle schools saw the most increases in discipline issues.

Tracy Metcalf said there was more reporting, and students need social skills.

The discipline committee is working on a discipline matrix tied to the code of conduct, which will cover elementary through high school.

“Board is trying to get those with discipline problems help,” board member Levy said about getting funds to the Community Learning Center at Pinckney where students can get help.

The discipline data presentation may be viewed here. 

Concerning bus safety, Jennifer Purvis, assistant superintendent for operations, reviewed an agreement with Cal/Amp Synovia to replace all keypads with tablets to support GPS tracking, student ridership, clock in/out, navigation and comparative routing.

The system uses the Here Comes the Bus Parent App. It includes a pre/post-vehicle inspection, two-way messaging and an emergency button.

The cost per month will be:

$48 per month for each of the 122 yellow buses = $5,856 per month;

$29.50 per month for each large garage vehicle = $118 per month; and

$20 per month for mechanic trucks = $160 per month.

Total monthly cost will be $6,134.00 which is an increase of $1,708.42 per month and $20,501.04 per year.

Altogether, the total yearly cost will be $73,608.

~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Journalist Stephanie M. Sellers; BS Mass Communication and Journalism, MFA Creative Writing. Contact her at [email protected]

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