County to Vote on School Debt

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the July 13 Franklin County School Board meeting, Director of Schools Amie Lonas announced that the Franklin County Commission would vote on the debt relief resolution attached to the 2015–16 school system budget. She also announced the appointment of Kimberly Tucker as the principal of Sewanee Elementary School [see adjacent story].

After initially rejecting the debt relief resolution passed by the school board in June, the County Commission’s Finance Committee has decided to put the resolution before the commission for a vote.

The resolution addresses the revenue shortfall in the 2015–16 school budget by relieving the school system from making payments from its operating budget on the new high school debt ($250,000 annually) and the $3 million bond ($260,000 annually). The resolution proposes that instead those debts be repaid with sales tax revenue already earmarked for school system debt service repayment.

The County Commission School Committee meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 27, at the Franklin County Courthouse.

In other business the school board voted to approve a revised corporal punishment policy, with board members Chris Guess and Sara Liechty opposing. According to the new policy, at the beginning of the school year, parents (or the student’s guardian) will be asked to sign a Disciplinary Preference form indicating either “I consent” or “I don’t consent” to the school administering corporal punishment. If no form is on file, the school cannot administer corporal punishment.

Revisiting the subject of late fees recently assessed on utility bills for the school system, Lonas said the County Commission would reimburse the school system for the late fees charged by Winchester Utilities. When reviewing utility bills for May, Energy Education Specialist Brian Norwood discovered nearly $1,500 in late fees charged to Townsend School, Clark Memorial School and Franklin County High School. Norwood learned the bills were not received for payment until May 19 and were due on May 20. The Franklin County School System is not the only department in the city being affected by the untimely bill delivery, Lonas said.

The board next meets on Monday, Aug. 3, for a working session.