Thanks for reading Fluco Blog! I’m Perrie Johnson, Fork Union’s representative to the Fluvanna County School Board. My goal with Fluco Blog is to let people know what’s going on at School Board meetings beyond the reports available online. Be forewarned, when it comes to discussion, most of the comments I remember turn out to be mine! Here’s the latest….
July began with a public comment requesting we apply for the US Air Force ROTC program. Board members were enthusiastic and we’ll begin the process, but it can take up to two years and still be denied by the USAF.
Policy discussion involved including retirees’ spouses and dependents on our health insurance plan. Like the retiree, dependents pay the total premium themselves (no contribution from FCPS) but because they’re likely older than our average participant, they might have more claims and drive up costs through raising our claims history. The policy allows it with some qualifications.
We talked again about the $75 cost to the public for obtaining a copy of the recording of our school board meetings. Although we’re told this can be the actual cost, I brought it back up suggesting we charge less and take the hit in order to encourage more community interest. Only three people have requested recordings since we started the practice. The administration is hesitant to simply post recordings online because of the possible financial risk of complying with ADA regulations. The Board agreed to take another look at the issue.
Finishing up the 2019 budget year, last month we expected to end up with about $1.4 million leftover. This month the number is closer to $600-800,000. I asked several questions to understand where the money was spent. A 1% salary increase for all staff costs about $300,000. I compare all large expenses to the possibility of raising pay instead.
Under Unfinished Business I brought up testing again. For a number of reasons, I narrowed down my request to reduce student testing to eliminating the Measures of Academic Progress test. Mr. Pullen had suggested this months ago but I was in favor of hearing from teachers and staff first. Mr. Pullen was still on board, but no one else.
On July 30 we meet again (8:30 school board office) for a seminar to discuss test scores, budget, goals, and discipline. And we changed the August meeting to one day earlier, Tuesday the 13th, to accommodate scheduling. I’m sorry about this.
Thanks, again, for reading!
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This blog is a personal blog, written and edited by me. The views expressed in this blog are purely my own and do not represent the Fluvanna County School Board, the school superintendent, or anyone else. Comments added by others are not necessarily my opinions and I am not responsible for their content.
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Wait a minute. Last month it was reported, by Mr Winkler I assume, that there was approx $1.4 million “left over” in the last year’s budget. A plan was developed to use some for a few specific purposes and return the rest (approx $1 million) to the Board of Supervisors. This month it is reported that the amount left over is significantly less that $1 million ($600000-$800,000). I, too, would like to know how and why the difference between those amounts was spent. What changed so drastically in one month and why was the School Board not informed in advance?