Board of Education Meeting: 5 Things You Should Know

1. Citizen Comments on the Transportation Efficiency Plan

A couple dozen people showed up to address the board about a proposed Transportation Efficiency Plan, which aims to reduce the FY13 budget by an estimated $1.2 million. Under the plan, school start and end times would change for most schools--drastically for some schools--and up to 40 buses could be removed from operation.  

Kelly Nelson, chair of the Community Advisory Council, asked the board to work closely with parents if they choose to change the bus times so that parents understand not only why the changes are being made, but also how they will be implemented.

Diane Brody, president of the Carroll County School Bus Contractors Association, said that she is concerned about the effects the changes will have on drivers and contractors. She said that the association has suggested changes for years but the idea of reducing the system by 40 buses is alarming.

She read a series of questions including, “How would the proposed reduction be accomplished? Can the new transportation plan be phased in over two years instead of one? Will it allow for unexpected growth? Will there be equal reduction in all areas of the county? If ridership increases, will it cause overcrowding on buses?”

Irene Johnson, co-owner of Johnson Bus Service, said that even though she hasn’t seen the details of the proposed plan, she doubts the school system can feasibly eliminate 40 buses from the system. She said that eliminating some buses would not be a problem, but with the slow economy, more students are riding the bus instead of being dropped off or driving themselves. Even though enrollment is expected to decline in coming years, the number of riders will not decrease, she said.

2. Changes to the Proposed Transportation Efficiency Plan

Later in the meeting, Superintendent Steve Guthrie presented an amendment to the original transportation efficiency plan that included different times for two elementary schools: Hampstead Elementary and Manchester Elementary. School Board President Jennifer Seidel and Vice President Barbara Shreeve voiced their concerns about the shifting schedules.

“In theory, I support the idea wholeheartedly because finding any efficiency in these tough times is extremely important," Seidel said.  “But I agree that with some families that we’re asking a lot of them to make drastic changes in these schedules, up to an hour for some. I’ll be up front in saying my family will be affected by this so people who don’t think we understand, we do. I’m going to put that aside because somehow my family will make it work, but because it’s my job to consider the information we’ve received, I do have to be concerned. We are saving money as a system but placing the financial burden on parents who have to now find childcare where before they didn’t need it.”

Guthrie responded saying that the bus schedules have not been looked at from a countywide perspective for a long time. He said he hears the concerns of the bus contractors and understands what the changes will mean for families, but reiterated that the budget demands cost-saving efficiencies. The consequence of not making these changes could mean losing classroom teachers, he said.

“I understand and I guess I’m looking at a wider scope and looking at the consequence of other reductions. I’m weighing the interruption of 26,000 families against the continuing need of Carroll County Public Schools to continue to offer services. I understand the consequence to families, but also understand the overall mission of our organization,” Guthrie said.

3. Graduation and Drop Out Rate Calculations Change

Greg Bricca, director of research and accountability with Carroll County Public Schools, gave a presentation to the board explaining that the way the county calculates drop out rates and graduation rates will be changing. In an interview after the meeting, Bricca explained that the change really has no impact on the community, but rather the responsibility of schools systems to account for all students. The new calculation method, referred to as “cohort” graduation and dropout rates, will better account for students who leave the school system, who do not get a standard diploma, who drop out and re-enter the system and students who take more than four years to graduate.

4. Mt. Airy Middle School Funding and the Commissioner’s Contingency

In one of the evening’s action items, Guthrie read a letter from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners Chief of Staff Steve Powell, requesting that the Board of Education consider transferring money to an “unallocated” joint account so that the commissioners can reduce the bonding obligations for the county. In the letter read by Guthrie, the county commissioners said they would approve the funding of the Mt. Airy Middle School construction project (a $30 million capital project that was already approved by the previous Board of Commissioners, with an estimated $700,000 already spent on the project) on the contingency that the Board of Education reduce the scope of the building project by $2.3 million. That $2.3 million would be transferred to a joint unallocated account, thereby reducing the county’s debt allocation. The letter added that should there be additional funding needs and that those needs would be taken into consideration by the county for the FY13 budget.

Guthrie said he was “assured by the Board of Commissioner President Doug Howard that the commissioners are committed to this project, but they have concerns about the budget and overall bonding debt of the county and want to take this opportunity to reduce bonding.”

Shreeve asked Guthrie, “We went through a whole process with Mt. Airy Middle school last year. We made a plan, got public comments, got input. Can you touch briefly on how we can make this change without undoing a process we already did?"

Guthrie responded, “The process we’ve gone through has changed because of the election and new board. A majority of the board (of commissioners) is committed to this project, the only thing in question is the amount of funds needed to complete the project.”

Board of Education member Gary Bauer said, “I’m going to vote for this but I’m really not happy with the process. This is a way for them (commissioners) to go to the community and say they’ve reduced debt. I’m not happy with the process but I will support it because I support the schools.”

Bauer later added, “I want to see the promise (of revisiting additional funding if necessary in FY13) in writing.”

When asked if the board “has to vote today,” Guthrie responded, “I’ll take a stab at this answer. If we cannot provide assurances to the state that this is a solid project with support from the county then they will undo the recommendation (to provide $13 million in funding) and we will lose this project.

The board voted 3-0 to transfer $2.3 million with Shreeve abstaining.

5. Agriculture Education in Carroll County Going High Tech

A presentation was given about agricultural education in Carroll County. A dozen Future Farmers of America (FFA) students were on hand to share their positive experiences in the program and explain how being involved in the program has helped them in many facets of life. Several agriscience teachers were on hand to discuss the program and its merits. The presentation also looked at where the program is going. The field is becoming increasingly technical with engineering, genetics and biotechnology. The board noted that three of the county’s agriscience teachers are Carroll County Teacher of the Year finalists.