Gaston County Schools Board of Education Wednesday, April 24, 2024 12:00 p.m.  Joint Board of Education/Board of Commissioner Meeting  Minutes  The Gaston County Board of Education met in a special meeting on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at the Gaston County. Administrative Building, Conference Room 3A, Gastonia, NC. Board Members in attendance were: Chairman Jeff Ramsey, Vice Chairman Dot Cherry, Josh Crisp, Lee Dedmon, Additional attendees from Gaston County Board of Education include: Superintendent Dr. Morgen A. Houchard, Attorney Sonya McGraw, Associate Superintendent Gary Hoskins, Board Clerk Dana Luoto, ChiefCommunications Officer Todd Hagans Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services, Rebekka Powers, Associate Superintendent of Academic Services, Tonya Kales Attendees from Gaston County Board of Commissioners: Chairman Chad Brown, Vice Chairman Bob Hovis, Allen Fraley, Kim Johnson, Tom Keigher, Cathy Cloninger and Ronnie Worley. Additional attendees from Gaston County Board of Commissioners: County Manager Dr. Kim Eagle, Deputy County Manager Matt Rhoten, County Attorney John Joye and Board Clerk Donna Buff. Chairman Chad Brown called thei meeting to order at 12:20 p.m., welcomed everyone to ther meeting Superintendent Houchard presented an overview of the 2024-2025 Gaston County Schools Budget Requestand thanked the Commissioners for past support of Gaston County Schools and an on-going Mr. Gary Hoskins presented a PowerPoint presentation on the 2024-2025 Gaston County Schools  Dot Guthrie, Tod Kinlaw, Robbie Lovelace, Brent Moore and A.M. Stephens III.  and Interim Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Jack Brooks.  and recognized Administrative Professionals Day.  relationship between staffand Board Members.  Budget Request. (View PowerPoint) Discussion occurred.  Chairman Brown and Chairman Ramsey thanked everyone for coming.  The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.  Approved:  Mhe  Jeff/K. Bamsey, Chairman [CorporateSeal)  Morgen A. Houchard, Secretary  Date Approved: Slaejasay    4/23/2024  Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Special Meeting  Gaston County Schools Budget Request  April 24, 2024  1  Presentation Overview  1. Collaborative Successes 2. Operating Request 3. Capital Outlay 4. Discussion  2  1    4/23/2024  Collaborative Successes  Schools  3  3  New construction  Pleasant Ridge Elementary School  Stanley Middle School  ool  Belmont Middle School  -  4  2    4/23/2024  New Grier Middle  5  New Grier Middle  Will support up to 1,000 students and can expand to 1,200 students 43 Core Classrooms and 10 CTE/Arts Approximately 165,000 square feet Two phase project - Building phase 1  classrooms  and athletic fields phase 2  Grand Opening - 2025-26 School Year  3    4/23/2024  Capital Projects  Paving South Point High North Gaston High W.B. Beam Intermediate Kiser Elementary Southwest Middle Cramerton Middle    7  Capital Projects  Roofing Holbrook Middle Cramerton Middle Bessemer City Middle Springfield Elementary Cherryville High Page Elementary  4    4/23/2024  Capital Projects  Other Projects Site Improvements Lighting Replacement HVAC/Boller/Chiler Flooring Media Centers Life Safety  9  Collaborative Successes  Safe and Secure Schools Career and Technical Education Technology Resources for Students Commissioners School of Excellence Magnet Schools and Academy Options  A+SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA  10  5    4/23/2024  Operating Request  Budget  FEl  11  Historical County Funding  FY2020-21 Actual Teacher supplements Employer paid benefits Inflation Classified compensation increase Certified employee inorease Total Change in Funding FY2021-22. Actual Teacher supplements Employer paid benefits Total Change in) Funding FY2 2022-23. Actual Teacher supplements Total Change in Funding FY2023-24Actual  $49,811,704  $500,000 $528,000 $212,000 $261,000 $189,000 $500,000 $500,000 $500,000  $1,690,000 $51,501,704 $1,000,000 $52,501,704 $500,000 $53,001,704  12  6    4/23/2024  Use of County Funds  Salary supplements - Teachers, Principals and Assistant Principals Maintenance and custodial personnel  Supplies and materials Student technology Utilities and insurance School Resource Officers Athletics and arts programs Charter school allotments  13  Stakeholders Survey  District Leadership School Administrators  Teachers Parents Public  14  7    4/23/2024  Budget Survey Results  Top Funding Priorities Increase Teacher Supplement Increase Classified Salaries MoreTeacher Assistants Increasestudentsupport UpgradeschoolSaretly:  Systems  2024-25 85% 60% 40% 33% 28%  Funding Source County Expansion Request County Expansion Request State Funded State Funded School Bond Funds  15  Operating Request  Ongoing Expenditures  Expenses related to the ongoing operations that are impacted by changes in the law, inflation, end of life for technology, state  mandated salary and benefit increases, etc.  New Expenditures  Expenses related to new programs, projects, initiatives, additional salary/supplement. increases, etc. that are supportive of the Gaston County Schools mission and vision  or are required by law.  16  8    4/23/2024  Operating Request  Expenditures New  Recommendation Item Ongoing Expenditures Replace End-of-Life Student Moble Devices Inflation Operating Expenses and Utities State Increase n Employee Compensation State Increase n Employer Paid Benefks New Expenditures Teacher Salary Supplement Increase Total  Ongoing $ 2,125,000 $ 785,000 502,000 550,000  Total $ 2,125,000 785,000 502,000 550,000 3,000,000  3,000,000  $3,962,000 $3,000,000 $6,962,000  17  Ongoing Expenditures Replace End-of-Life Student Chromebooks  New Chromebooks will be issued to all 7,200 incoming 2nd, 6th and gth grade  students next year  The projected cost to replace these devices amounts to $2,125,000 next year This cost was covered by COVID-related funding for the past three years  18  9    4/23/2024  Ongoing Expenditures  Expected Inflationary Impact Inflation is budgeted to be 2.4% next year for purchases of goods and services The estimated impact on our $14.5 million of  purchases of goods and services is $350,000 projected utility expenses expenses is $435,000  Inflation is budgeted to be 8.3% next year for The estimated impact on our $5.3 million in utility  Total inflationary costs are budgeted to be $785,000 next year  19  Ongoing Expenditures  State Increase in Employee Compensation The State biennial budget includes an increase of 3.0% for all State paid employees for 2024-2025.  As similar 3.0% increase for our locally paid employees would cost about $502,000. This includes both classified employees and  certified employees.  20  10    4/23/2024  Ongoing Expenditures  State Increase in Employer Paid Benefits Next year employer provided employee benefits are projected to increase by  $550,000 as follows:  Health insurance premium is projected to increase by 7.1% from $7,557 to $8,095 Retirement contribution is budgeted to increase by 5.0% from 25.0% to 26.3%  21  New Expenditures Teacher Salary Supplements  Over the past nine years, the County has increased teacher supplements by This year the State paid an annual salary supplement of $1,001 per teacher, net of $486 in employer matching retirement costs We are requesting a $3.0 million increase in local teacher supplements for next year  $4.68 million  22  11    4/23/2024  Local Teacher Supplements  Average Sunplement: $ 9,015 8,414 8,292 6,653 6,039 5.984 5,581 5,286 3,860  SimilarSize Districts(ADM) New Hanover County (25,082) Durham County (31,124) Buncombe County (22,041) Johnston County (36,838) Cabarrus County (34.674) State Average Onslow County (27.768) Union County (41,196) Gaston County (29,936)  Source: DPI FY 2022-2023 Table 20 for Average Supplement and DPI FY 2022-2023 Table 101 for ADM  23  Local Teacher Supplements  Average Supplement $ 9,545 6,039 5,984 5,286 5,050 4,372 3,871 3,860 3,591 3,012  Neighboring Districts (ADM) Chariotte-Meckenbur (141,217) Cabarrus County/(34.674) State Average Union County_(41.196 Lincoln County(IL.406 Catawba County_(15.448) Iredell-Statesville (20,516) Gaston County (29,936) Cleveland County (14,011) Rowan-Salisbury, (18.000)  Source: DPI FY 2022-2023 Table 201 for Average Supplement and DPI FY 2022-2023 Table 101 for ADM  24  12    4/23/2024  Local Teacher Supplements  Average-Supnlement 2022-23 2013-14 Change  AechbornzDsnesAD. Cabarrus County/34674) State Average Union_County.41190) Lincoln County(11.406) Catawba County(15.448) Iredell-Statesville (20.516) Gaston County/29.936) Cleveland County(14011) Rowan-salisbury/(oo)  Cmote-esebuxtan $ 9,545 $ 6,083 3,462.  6,039 5.984 5,286 5,050 4,372 3,871 3.860 3,591 3,012  2,509 3,553 3,065 2,928 2.913 2,477 2.177 1,635 2,297  3,530 2,431 2,221 2,122 1.459 1,394 1,683 1,956 715  Source: DPIFY 2022-2023 and FY 2013-2014 Table 20 for Average Supplement: and! DPIFY2 2022-2023 Table 10 for ADM  25  Operating Request Summary  Amount  County Request  2023-24 $52,501,704 $1,585,000 $1,300,000 $55,386,704  2024-25 $53,001,704 $3,962,000 $3,000,000 $59,963,704  Prior Year County Appropriation Ongoing Expenditures New Initiatives Total County Request  26  13    4/23/2024  Capital Outlay  27  Capital Outlay  School Bonds New construction Classroom additions Capital replacements  Capital Outlay Minor repairs  Preventative maintenance Contracted facility services  28  14    4/23/2024  Capital Outlay  Capital outlay is money used to maintain, upgrade or repair capital assets such as the following:  Roofing HVAC Vehicles Plumbing Site improvements  Electrical systems Technology Furniture  Life safety equipment Other capital assets  29  Capital Outlay  Maintenance Costs Are Affected By:  Age of the Buildings Quality and Experience of Custodial Staff Training of Custodial Staff Deferred Maintenance  AGE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS  40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 5.66 9.43 7.55 0.0  37.74 20.75  9.43 7.55  Pdde  Backlog  75% of our school buildings have ay weighted average age of 40 years or older  30  15    4/23/2024  Maintenance Cost per Square Foot  $2.00 $1.50 $1.00 $0.50 $0.00  2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 ---Upper Quarule --Median --Lower Quartle M--GCS Funded  2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22  Upper Quartile $ 1.57 $ 1.52 $ 1.64 $ 1.66  Median Lower Quartile GCS Funded  1.27 1.02 0.24  1.20 0.91 0.43  1.27 0.95 0.43  1.31 1.09 0.43  Source: Managing for Results in America's Great City Schools - 2023 (results from fiscal year 2021-2022)  31  Capital Outlay  All schools and administrative buildings total about 5.1 million square feet  This year we received $2.2 million in capital outlay, or about $0.43 per square foot  We are requesting $6.7 million in capital outlay  for 2024-25. This request amounts to $1.31 per square foot  32  16    4/23/2024  Capital Outlay  Adopted Budget  Proposed 100,000 150,000  Expenditures Technology Vehides General Renovations Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment  2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25  $ 100,000 $ 50,000 $ 50,000 $ 150,000 100,000 100,000 225,000  1,882,000 1,027,000 1,027,000 2,002,000 2,219,000 6,300,000  95,000  50,000  50,000  8,000 150,000  TOTALCOUNTYCAPTAL $2,227,000 $1,227,000 $1,227,000 $2,227,000 $2,227,000 $6,700,000  33  Conclusion  This budget request supports the Gaston County Schools' vision to "inspire success and a lifetime of learning" for all of our students.  34  17    4/23/2024  Discussion  35  Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Special Meeting  Gaston County Schools Budget Request  April 24, 2024  36  18