Riverview High School

School Advisory Council Special Budget Workshop Meeting

March 18, 2003

 

 

Present:  Tracy Brady, Demetrus Dawkins, Chuck Evans, Abby Gerrity, Christine Glass, Judy Lyon, Jason Mocherman, Becky Moyer, Linda Nook, Janice Piedra, Charmaine Pontlitz, Dusty Twining, Katrina Ward, and Laticia Williams

 

Absent:  Ned Ashton (excused), Pat Bliss (excused), Mary Byrd (excused), Judi Ex (excused), Paul Gallagher, Mary Gorman, Lisa Hlohinec, Sue Hlohinec, Clay Kearney, Simon Kirby, Shannon Lyons, April Roberson, Sam Sharff, Fred Spence, Russell White, and Peggy Wiggins

 

Call Meeting to Order

Ms. Linda Nook called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.

 

Overview of Budget Timelines

Ms. Linda Nook stated that the deadline for the budget to completed is April 11, 2003.

 

Review of Specific School Budget Instructions

Ms. Nook explained that the Constitutional Amendment 9 establishes limits for class size in Florida’s public schools to be achieved through the reduction of 2 students per year until class sizes in core subject areas are:

            •18 students – pre kindergarten through 3rd grade

            •22 students 4th grade through 8th grade

            •25 students 9th grade through 12th grade

 

She continued that as a part of the Exceptional Student Education funding model, students who had been identified in support levels one through three (251-253) were now being funded based on a combination of basic funding and the ESE Guaranteed Allocation; that to ensure Federal IDEA funds were being spent appropriately, not all current federally funded positions would rollover into the 2003-2004 budget; that the positions that did not roll forward would be reviewed during the meetings with Pupil Services administration.

 

Review of Budget Allocation Worksheets

Ms. Nook noted that incoming 9th graders, who are siblings of current RHS students, would receive school choice before others.

 

Ms. Nook continued that this year school enrollment projections could fluctuate due to the impact of choice, Class Size Reduction Amendment 9, unforeseen economic problems and charter schools; and that the following schools were instructed to be conservative in staffing:  Alta Vista, Emma E. Booker, Gocio, Gulf Gate, Phillippi Shores, Wilkinson, Booker Middle, Heron Creek, Sarasota Middle, and all High Schools. 

 

Ms. Nook concluded that it was very important that funds being reserved for the 10 day personnel adjustment be placed in the temporary personnel services row of the 2003-2004 Budget Allocation Worksheet; and that appropriations held in the temporary personnel account could be converted to positions through a request to the budget department; and that additional funds had been received for class load reductions.

 

School Budget Allocation Factors

Ms. Nook explained the High School General Fund Allocation Factors as the following:

•Instructional Personnel Allocations

            •Basic program instruction uses the FTE by grade level by program.  The teacher basic appropriation dollar allocations are arrived at based upon the following ratios:  Grades 9-12 32.48, the block schedule schools allocation reduces the allocation of 32.48 by 1 to 31.48.

•ESOL teacher units are based upon ESOL FTE 20.5.

•ESOL aide units are based upon ESOL FTE 177.87.

•ESE and vocational teacher units are based upon FTE 9-12 21.6, the block schedule schools allocation is reduced by 1.

 

•Support Personnel Allocations Per School

            •1 Principal

            •For each 500 FTE the following appropriations are generated:  P.E. teacher, security aide, and assistant principal.

            •Guidance Counselor 350

            •1 registrar, 1 principal secretary, 1 S-1 secretary, 1 bookkeeper, 1 guidance secretary, 1 in-school suspension aide, .5 vocational aide, 1 art teacher, 1 media specialist, 1 tech aide, and 1 clinic aide.

            •For every 540 FTE 1 music teacher

            •The ESE Liaison ratio is as follows:  under 200 ESE students 1 position, 200 to 400 ESE students 1.5 positions, 400 ESE students and above 2 positions.

 

Ms. Nook noted that approximately 15 positions had been funded through the referendum last year, and that the same positions would be funded again for the 2003-2004 school year.

 

New Referendum School Budget Allocation Factors

The handout distributed by Ms. Nook stated that the following allocations were dependent upon the March 19, 2002 four year millage and highlighted the following:

            •Each school receives an adjusted dollar amount based upon the 2003-2004 student population in order to maintain the original 2002-2003 appropriation that was distributed to maintain programs and class size.  Without this appropriation schools would have increased class size and eliminated programs in 2002-2003.

            •Each school receives an additional FTE based allocation of $276.50 per ESOL FTE.  This allocation is to be used for assisting teachers with the ESOL testing, required paperwork, parent meetings, etc.

            •All elementary schools receive a dollar allocation equivalent to an A-2 aide salary, to assist with the science program.

            •All schools have had the guidance counselor ratio reduced to generate additional guidance support.  Elementary from an allocation of 1 per school to 1 for every 450 students.  Middle schools from a ratio of 1 for every 500 students to every 450 students, High schools from every 350 students to every 300 students.

•All schools receive an allocation for remediation/dropout prevention.  This allocation is to assist schools in meeting all needs from direct instruction to instructional support necessary to assure required testing/documentation etc.

•All schools are receiving an allocation to meet the unfunded student record information mandates that school registrars have been burdened with.  This allocation is for required overtime and extra duty days.

•Schools that have exceptional student clusters are being given additional instructional support and contracted services support.

•Middle and High schools have had the ratio lowered that generates the security aide position.  The ratio has been lowered to 1 for every 300 students for high schools and 1for every 400 students at middle schools.  The ratio before was 1 for every 500.

 

There was discussion regarding the statement “all schools receive an allocation for remediation/dropout prevention”.  It was suggested that “other options” be put in place for those students who could not pass the FCAT, HSCT, etc. to satisfy graduation requirements.

 

The following dates were confirmed for future SAC Budget Meetings in the South Cafeteria Conference Room:

            April 1, 2003 (2:00 – 5:00 p.m.)

            April 7, 2003 (2:00 – 5:00 p.m.)

 

The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m.

 

*The next meeting will be on Tuesday, April 1, 2003

 

Respectfully submitted by Demetrus Dawkins