HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_0480 (2)The Expansion Items are for Year Round School Pilot Sites
which will be for Mt. Mourne (2), Troutman, NB Mills and
Monticello, for a total of $95,456. Reduction in class size for 8
teachers $222,640. The total Expansion Budget Items is $318,096.
This represents a total net increase of 9.78% over last year's
budget for Current Expense when you consider the 3.76% cuts in last
year's budget.
On the Year Round School, the classes have to be conducted
where there is air conditioning. If the Pilot school is
successful, they can envision going into middle schools, but they
do not see going into high school. They are saying now that it
will never go into high school, Long said; however, things may
change. The only way they see Year Round in high school is for it
to be held in a single high school only, like Statesville High,
where the students are in a more concentrated area.
The Reduction for Class Size item is at the elementary level,
which is the request for eight additional teachers.
V. Chairman Boone inquired what is included in the Year Round
school cost. Dr. Register said additional operation costs,
transportation (school buses run more days), operation of the
cafeteria (utilities, etc.), custodial services, and general
utilities. Classroom teachers who choose to participate in the
program usually flex their schedules. They are working the same
number of days and work a different calendar. There are some
programs, like exceptional children's programs, enhancement
programs, music programs, physical education fitness, etc., where
expansion of the calendar is required and you have to employ some
of these instructors for a longer period of time. A half-time
person is included to serve as an instructional coordinator, half-
time at N.B. Mills and half-time at Monticello. The two other
schools, Mt. Mourne and Troutman, have assistant principals so the
only thing that is being added there is a month's employment to
their eleven months so they will have administrative staff on duty
in the summer time.
The school system has had a person from the Newton -Conover
School system who has implemented Year Round program in Newton -
Conover schools to consult with them on the planning, and they feel
they are pretty accurate. The cost runs about $85 per child,
Register said. The cost in Iredell County will be a little higher
than Newton -Conover because of the increase in transportation
costs.
Commissioner Stewart asked if it would only become cost
effective if every school has Year Round school. Dr. Register said
it would have to be done by total school. Commissioner Hamby
inquired if a school was totally Year Round, would it be the same
cost as a traditional school or would it be more? Dr. Register
said utilities, etc., would cost more
With the summer school remediation programs already in place,
there is only about 20 additional days the buses would run for Year
Round School, Jeff Tucker said.
Dr. Register distributed information on the interest of
parents and students in the Year Round School. The highest
interest they had was Mt. Mourne which had 35% total school
population that expressed interest. Chairman Long said there was a
very short notice for people to decide about the Year Round School.
Vice Chairman Boone said he had no problem with offering Year
Round School as an option, but if it costs $85 per student more, if
the schools can legally do it, he thinks the students who sign up
should have to pay the extra $85.
Commissioner Madison inquired if there was not Social Services
assistance for the children who wanted Year Round School and could
not afford it, or if some County fund could not be set up for these
persons who wanted it and could not afford it.
APR 141994 461