School Board Reviews Budget & Policies

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the May 2 working session the Franklin County Board of Education reviewed the 2016–17 budget proposed by Director of Schools Amie Lonas, as well proposed revisions to the drug testing and dress code policies.
The proposed $44,610,502 budget exceeds projected revenue by $1,303,416, again requiring the school system to dip into the fund balance reserve. Lonas said the draw on the fund balance “would reduce the total reserve to $3,162,231, but that’s still well within the 3 percent of the operating budget we’re required to hold in reserve by law.” Three percent of the 2016–17 operating budget is $1,271,465.
Highlighting provisions of the 2016–17 budget, Lonas said it includes a 2 percent raise for all school system employees, with the amount dedicated to teachers’ salaries increasing by $821,000 and a 1.5 percent raise ($17,000 total) for contract bus drivers.
The budget also earmarks $135,000 for curriculum coaches, regular classroom teachers who take on the added duty of coordinating lesson planning and practices in their field of instruction.
Board member Sarah Liechty said, “I hope teachers understand why they’re only getting a 2 percent raise when the state announced funding proposed to increase teacher salaries by 4 percent.”
 Lonas explained, “What we get from the state for the Basic Education Program funds 350 positions, but we have far more than that.” The state funding does not cover all the aids and other educational staff employed by the school system.
 Commenting on the special education budget, Lonas said, “We may need to add a bus route and driver, as we’re at capacity now.”
 Franklin County Commissioner Angie Fuller asked the board to approve a Transition to Work grant, which would pay 70 percent of the salary for an instructor and assistant to implement the Occupational Diploma option for special education students. The school system does not currently offer an Occupational Diploma, which requires two years of work experience. The board agreed to move the request to the consent agenda for approval at the regular board meeting.
 Updating the board on special education needs, Fuller said the county had 900 special education students, 17–19 percent of the student population compared to a state average of 16–18 percent. “We’re seeing an increase in the number of severely challenged students,” Fuller said. “These students are the most costly to serve.”
 Moving on to policy considerations, Lonas recommended deleting the highly punitive alternative school drug testing policy and having all students in the system subject to the same policy. She also recommended revisions to the language of the current Alcohol and Drug Testing policy and adding a clause defining the testing procedure. The revisions were suggested by school attorney Chuck Cagle to adhere to state code.
 The revised policy provides for testing when there is “reasonable indication a student may have used or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”
 The testing procedures would require parental notification before the student is tested and stipulates a urine test be used, in keeping with the intention of the state code.
 The current policy allows for hair sample testing. Board President Kevin Caroland pointed out urine testing was less costly and suggested all student athletes be tested, since the current random testing practice seems to favor certain students over others. Lonas will consult with Cagle on the legality of testing all student athletes, as opposed to random testing.
 Taking up proposed revisions to the dress code, Caroland and board member Chris Guess expressed reservations about allowing students to wear shorts. “At the high school level, we’re preparing students for a job,” Caroland said, “and dress is where that starts.”
 The board also discussed changing the skirt length requirement to “top of the knee” as opposed to three inches above the knee to make the requirement easier to monitor.
 Board member Adam Tucker asked why the logo size allowed was increased from two inches to six inches. “School principals felt two inches was restrictive,” Lonas explained.
 Lonas announced the school system would not administer Tennessee Ready testing in grades three–eight, but would comply with the state’s request to administer the test at the high school level. The state is considering using the results for school growth ranking purposes. The state recently ended its contract with Measurement Inc., the company responsible for scoring the test, due to problems with the software and delivery of the tests.