January 14th Business, Facilities & Technology Committee Meeting Recap
The TL;DR
- Budget Crisis: The district is facing a “severe” financial challenge, with a projected $3.3 million draw from the fund balance this year due to skyrocketing special education and charter school costs.
- Charter Conflict: Board members expressed outrage over School Lane Charter School’s student classification data, alleging “statistically unlikely” spikes in special education enrollments that are draining district funds.
- Spending Freeze: All non-essential expenditures are on hold, and the administration has been tasked with presenting a “list of unpleasantness”—potential budget cuts—by February.
The Big Vote: Rush Elementary HVAC & “Site Logic” Selection
The board moved forward with selecting Site Logic as the firm for a Guaranteed Energy Savings Agreement (GESA) project. The primary focus is a critical HVAC overhaul at Rush Elementary School this summer.
- The Decision: While not a final price approval, the selection allows Site Logic to begin design work at its own risk.
- Why it matters: Rush Elementary has been described as “neglected” for years. Without this project, officials warn students could return in August to a building that is “not pretty” during heatwaves. The project aims to improve climate and humidity control while removing loud, floor-mounted units from classrooms.
- The Twist: The district is also authorized to chase up to $5 million in state grant funding for potential HVAC and roof work at Belmont Elementary, though award timelines won’t help the immediate needs at Rush.
Public Comment Highlights
- Tax Penalty Dispute: Resident Kathy Gross appealed to the board after her family never received their tax bill in the mail, resulting in a 10% late penalty.
- The Outcome: Business Manager John Steffy noted that while the district usually sees 5–10 such requests, they received 30 this year—a “real thing” likely caused by post office or third-party mailing issues. The board moved to waive the penalties for the 29 residents who requested relief, provided they have no delinquency history in the last five years.
Financial Update: The “Budget of Doom”
The meeting took a dark turn during the financial report, which revealed that despite a 5.5% tax increase in 2024, the district is burning through its savings.
- The Numbers: The fund balance has plummeted from $13 million to a projected $3.5 million by the end of this year.
- The Culprits: Uncontrollable costs in Special Education (up nearly $10M over five years) and Charter Schools (up $6.2M over five years) are outstripping tax revenue.
- The Controversy: Director of Special Services Dr. Brian Cohen presented data showing School Lane Charter School’s special ed population magically jumped from 58 to 109 students in just four months. Board President Fernandez called the trend “statistically unlikely” and suggested the charter is reclassifying students to secure higher tuition rates (up to $42,000 per child) from the district.
Other Business
- Chromebook Cuts: In a move to save $343,000, the board is considering ending “one-to-one” devices for K-2 students. Instead of every child having a laptop, classrooms would share carts of 10. A motion to purchase a limited number of devices (not to exceed $482,000) was moved to the full board for further debate.
- Tech Scaleback: A request for new Aruba wireless access points was denied. The board also slashed a request for 36 new classroom displays down to 12, citing the need to “nickel and dime” to save the budget.
- Transportation Woes: The district is facing a driver shortage, but refused to outsource runs to private contractors, calling their $65–$70 hourly rates “prohibitive.”
Next Meeting: February Business Committee Meeting (Date TBA). Expect a heated presentation on proposed staff and program cuts.
