April 23, 2015 Special Meeting

As always, these are my opinions only and not the opinions of the Pendleton County School Board or any other individual Board members.

 

We spent a lengthy discussion regarding the mechanics of making our meeting agenda.  We could adopt the KSBA policy, modify the KSBA policy, or make our own policy.  However, whatever policy we adopt needs to be defined in our local board policy manual. 

 

The item of most concern for me was the district staffing.  Some background information is needed here.  School staffing is determined every year by adding two numbers.  The first is a minimum number based on the students attending each school (allocation formula).  The second number, usually 25-30 districtwide positions, are “add-ons” that most students and parents would consider important (music, P.E., art, counselors, etc.). 

A teaching position “add-on” was included in the staffing at all four district schools last year.  This year, Superintendent Strong made the recommendation that these four “add-ons” (and an algebra teacher) not be included.  I modified the motion to add 3 of those positions back onto our staff for next year (the fourth position will be discussed in my next entry).  This motion also included keeping an algebra teacher at SMS.  The Board voted 3-1 to add these positions back in with Nordheim, Utz, and Bertram in favor and Spence opposed.  My concern is that Pendleton County is still not a proficient district.  After studying proficient districts in Kentucky, I find they typically spend about 58% of their general fund on instruction (teachers).  This focus on instruction in Pendleton County has been eroded over the last four years as our percentage is down to 53%.  Cutting teaching staff would be a step in the wrong direction.  District administrative staff cuts were not on the agenda at this meeting, and I left the meeting concerned that a special meeting to address these necessary cuts would need to be called.