DON'T GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT MORE WORK TO DO.
[00:00:06]
NOW DR. HUTCHINS, DO YOU WANT TO KICK OFF THE WORK SESSION WITH ANYTHING?[Call to Order]
I SEE THE MEMO HAS THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.I KNOW IT'S EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE ACTIVITY, THUMBS UP AND THUMBS DOWN ACTIVITY IS EVERYONE'S FAVORITE.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO START US OFF?
>> I CAN REITERATE WHAT IS IN THE MEMO, TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW SO IT'S ON THE
[Item 1]
RECORD PUBLICLY AND PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM ME AS WELL.THAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED TIMES FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD.
AND WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO REVISIT OUR FY 21 BUDGET, WHICH AT A TIME LIKE THIS, I MEAN, IT MAKES EVERYBODY UNEASY, INCLUDING A SUPERINTENDENT TO HAVE TO MAKE THESE TOUGH DECISIONS.
BUT WHAT WE PROPOSED TO THE BOARD REDUCTION ITEMS THAT WE FELT WOULD ASSIST US WITH BALANCING THE BUDGET AND HAVING THE LEAST IMPACT ON OUR INSTRUCTION OF OUR STUDENTS, KEEPING IN MIND ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND SOME OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE NOW THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF /AO*EUPB CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AFTER THE FIRST ADD/DELETE SECTION, WE HAD A DISCUSSION OF TRYING TO FIND SOME FORM OF ONE TIME PAYMENT, EITHER TO TEACHERS OR A ONE TIME PAYMENT TO ALL STAFF MEMBERS AND OUR TEAM WENT BACK AND WE LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF USING.
THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS ARE NOT DIVISION WIDE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO USE.
THESE ARE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS THAT WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO TAKE A DAY OFF TO DO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, EVERY TEACHER RECEIVES TWO THAT THEY CAN USE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND AS A DIVISION ARE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR TO OBTAIN A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.
SO WE'RE PAYING ABOUT $157 PER DAY FOR THAT SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.
WHEN A TEACHER CHOOSES TO USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY.
BEING THAT THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR EXAMPLE, LIMITED TRAVEL.
I KNOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT DEPENDING ON HOW WE START THE YEAR, I KNOW THAT THE YEAR IS NOT GOING TO START AS A TRADITIONAL OPENING.
UNLESS A MIRACLE HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
IF THAT IS THE CASE, THAT MEANS THAT TEACHERS ARE NOT GOING TO WANT TO LIMIT THEIR TIME WITH THEIR STUDENTS, IN ADDITION WITH THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
THIS COULD BE A YEAR FOR US TO USE THAT FUNDING.
IT'S NOT A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR US.
IT'S POSSIBLE THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNCERTAINTY WITH THIS PANDEMIC.
WE CANNOT ASSUME THAT EVERY YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE TWO TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DAYS COULD BE USED TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO YOU KNOW, TO INVEST IN SOMETHING ELSE, IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY WITHIN THE BUDGET.
I WANTED TO PREFACE OUR DISCUSSION WITH THAT.
ONE TIME PAYMENT OF $250 FOR THE 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR.
THE OTHER OPTION WAS $150 PAYMENT TO ALL STAFF FOR THE 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR, WERE THE TWO OPTIONS THAT WE SHARED WITH THE BOARD.
[00:05:01]
>> I WANTED TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATIONS OR SAY SOME CLARIFICATIONS, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN, WE DO THIS PERIODICALLY WHEN I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, TEACHERS SEEM TO NOT REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING STEP INCREASES OVER THE YEARS.
FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN STEP INCREASES, INCLUDING MRA IN THE LAST YEAR.
AND THEN ALSO ABOUT THE SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS BECAUSE EIGHT YEARS AGO, AROUND EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE STARTED PUTTING MORE INTO THE MANDATORY BRS RETIREMENT.
SO THERE'S STUFF GOING INTO THE RETIREMENT.
THERE WAS NO CUT IN THAT THIS YEAR.
I THINK THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT THAT AND MISCOMMUNICATION ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF LETTERS ABOUT THE 250 OR 150 BEING TOTALLY NOT REALLY BEING RELEVANT BECAUSE OF THE COST THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING.
ALTHOUGH OUR EXAMPLE THAT WAS GIVEN WAS $213 MORE, THE INSURANCE MIGHT BE FOR A FULL YEAR.
THAT WAS, OF COURSE, A SINGLE PERSON, BUT WITH THE MOST EXPENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE AS WELL AS DENTAL AND I BELIEVE VISION.
SO YOU KNOW, ALSO THE TAX IMPLICATIONS, YOU KNOW, PRE TAX, IF IT'S GOING TOWARD, CAN SOMEONE SORT OF CLARIFY THOSE THINGS? BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF LETTERS ABOUT THAT.
>> SO YES, I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CLARIFY SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
THE FIRST ITEM I DO WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT IS REALLY WITH THE HEALTH BENEFITS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, I'VE ASKED FOR TUJAN TO JOIN US, DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, TO HELP WITH QUESTIONS THAT BOARD MEMBERS MIGHT HAVE TODAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF E MAILS IN REGARDS TO NOT HAVING AN INCREASE IN HEALTH PREMIUMS. AND I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR, IF SUSAN OR ED ALLOW, I THINK SHE'S ON THE ATTENDEE SIDE, SHE'S NOT ON THE PANELIST SIDE.
>> SHE IS NOW A PANELIST, SO SHE CAN SPEAK.
>> I KNOW THAT IN PARTICULAR WITH THE HEALTH PLAN BENEFITS, I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING, I MEAN, THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.
THIS IS NOT AN ACPS ISSUE IN REGARDS TO HEALTH PREMIUM INCREASES.
NATIONALLY, HEALTH PREMIUM INCREASES, THEY ARE MOVING AT A FASTER RATE THAN OUR YOU KNOW, LIVING WAGE INCREASES.
IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
BUT WE CAN KEEP WORKING TOWARDS THAT WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ADVOCATE THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO A LOT OF THESE HEALTH COMPANIES AND TO THE HEALTH INDUSTRY.
BUT YOU KNOW, OUR PREMIUMS, THEY INCREASE WHEN WE HAVE REALLY LARGE CLAIMS THAT OCCUR WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
THAT IS WHAT DETERMINES WHETHER PREMIUMS ARE GOING TO NEED TO INCREASE OR NOT.
APPARENTLY WE HAD A YEAR WITH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CLAIMS. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REACT AND RESPOND TO.
AND WE GOT TO HAVE THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE EXTENSIVE CLAIMS. WE DO WANT OUR STAFF MEMBERS TO HAVE REALLY GOOD HEALTH BENEFITS.
AND YOU KNOW, WE SAID THIS BACK IN NOVEMBER, WHEN WE HAD A PRESENTATION WITH THE BOARD JUST IN REGARDS TO LIKE OUR HEALTH, OUR EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS, I'M SORRY, EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION, RIGHT NOW WITH THE EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION OF 80 PERCENT FOR MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES, 90 PERCENT FOR OUR SUPPORT STAFF, THAT IS A VERY SOLID TOP OF THE LINE HEALTH BENEFIT PACKAGE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO MOVING FORWARD, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BEHOOVE US TO EDUCATE OUR STAFF ON HOW THE HEALTH SYSTEM WORKS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES BASED ON THEIR OWN HEALTH SITUATION, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY NEED TO HAVE YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEALTH CHALLENGES.
BUT THEN YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO NEVER NEED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EDUCATING FOLKS ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANS
[00:10:01]
THAT WE DO OFFER SO THAT YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR PLAN OPTIONS BASED ON YOUR HEALTH NEED.AND US TRYING TO CHANGE YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE SPLIT BETWEEN EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT IN THE LONG RUN YOU KNOW, ON OUR BEHALF.
IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS YOU'RE SAYING LET'S COME UP WITH A DOLLAR AMOUNT TO FIX THE HEALTH ISSUE.
BECAUSE IF WE ADD OR WE MAKE OUR CONTRIBUTION EVEN LARGER, SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY WELL, NOW I WANT TO JOIN IN ON ACPS'S HEALTH PROGRAM AND IT'S ALREADY A 79 PERCENT, WHICH IS VERY HIGH FOR US.
AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN.
I'M NOT TRYING TO CHANGE A PLAN THIS YEAR.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THAT SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE COULD MAKE TODAY COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE AN IMPACT TOMORROW THAT WON'T BE SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME.
SO I KNOW THAT DR. WILKINS OR MR. TURNER, I KNOW THEY'RE ON THE CALL.
YOU MAY WANT TO ANSWER SOME OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT THE CHAIR ANDERSON HAD MENTIONED.
>> WE COMPARED OUR PLAN, WE BRIEFED THE BOARD, EARLIER THIS SPRING, WHEN YOU COMPARE ACPS, TO THE OTHER ENTITIES, ARLINGTON COUNTY, PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, THE CITY OF /AO*EUPB, ACPS PROVIDES A BETTER PAYMENT ON THE EMPLOYEES PREMIUM COMPARED TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
THAT COST RANGES ANYWHERE FROM $477 ALL THE WAY UP TO $1,001.
WE HAVE A TOP OF THE LINE PACKAGE WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THESE OTHER ENTITIES.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EVERYBODY'S EFFECT ON THEIR TAKE HOME PAY IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ON THE TAX BRACKET.
SO WHILE AN INDIVIDUAL PREMIUM MIGHT INCREASE FOR A PERSON BY $100, IT DOESN'T IMPACT THEIR TAKE HOME PAY BY $100.
IF YOU'RE IN THE 28 PERCENT TAX BRACKET, IT MEANS IT'S GOING TO HAVE A $72 IMPACT ON YOUR TAKE HOME PAY.
IF YOU'RE IN A 10 PERCENT TAX BRACKET, IT WOULD HAVE A $90 IMPACT ON YOUR TAKE HOME PAY.
MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE, FOR EVERY PLAN WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE CAN CHOOSE FOUR DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
CHOOSE TO NOT GO WITH THE PLAN AT ALL.
EMPLOYEE ONLY, EMPLOYEE PLUS ONE OR FAMILY ON THIS.
THREE MEDICAL PLANS, DENTAL PLAN AND A VISION PLAN FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE HERE IN ACPS.
AS DR. HUTCHINGS AND DR. WILKINS MENTIONED, WHEN WE DID THE STUDY TO COMPARE TO OTHER JURISDICTION, WE SAW THAT THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE AND THE COST TO OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THOSE OF US SURROUNDING JURISDICTION.
THE 80/20 SPLIT, 90/10 SPLIT IS MUCH BETTER THAN ALL OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS SURROUNDING US.
SO IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THAT TO SAY, 82/19, OR 92/8, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS AS PREMIUMS CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LARGER BURDEN OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FOR ACPS, WHICH WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AS EVERYBODY ALREADY KNOWS, ROUGHLY 90 PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET IS PERSONNEL.
SO IF WE CHANGE THE FORMULA FOR THE COST SHARING SPLIT, YOU KNOW, THAT 90 PERCENT WILL JUST CONTINUE TO GO UP.
AND IT WILL LEAVE LESS AND LESS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO IN OTHER AREAS OF ACPS.
>> I DID WANT TO COMMENT BECAUSE WHAT DR. HUTCHINGS SAID IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND AS WELL.
AND IT'S THIS NOTION OF OFTENTIMES AS A LOCALITY, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
[00:15:08]
HOW TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF BIGGER PROBLEMS. AND I THINK HEALTH CARE IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE ISSUES.WHAT THIS YOU KNOW, THE MORE TIME THAT I'VE SPENT YOU KNOW, IN A POSITION OF BEING ELECTED, IT JUST HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME THE IMPORTANCE OF FIGURING OUT HOW WE'RE CONNECTING WITH OTHER LOCAL LEADERS, HOW WE'RE CONNECTING WITH OUR STATE LEADERS AND FEDERAL LEADERS, BECAUSE THE COST OF HEALTH CARE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CONTROL AS A SCHOOL DIVISION.
BUT YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE THEN YOU KNOW, I KNOW FOR SURE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO WORK ON NEXT YEAR IS GETTING CONNECTED WITH MY STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO FIGURE OUT YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO AND NOW CONSIDER AROUND YOU KNOW, PROVIDING BETTER HEALTH CARE OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. I'M PRETTY SURE EVERYBODY NEEDS BETTER HEALTH CARE OPTIONS.
BUT YOU KNOW, IN THE POSITION THAT I SIT IS THERE WORK THAT WE CAN DO AROUND THAT.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO REACH FARTHER THAN ACPS TO ACHIEVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE JUST CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PUT IN BAND AID FIXES THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME UP EVERY YEAR.
SO JUST SAYING THAT I HEAR ALL OF THE CONCERNS AROUND THE HEALTH CARE COST ISSUE.
BUT I DO BELIEVE IT IS A BIGGER ISSUE THAT WILL NOT GET ADDRESSED UNLESS WE USE OUR POSITIONS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GO FARTHER THAN THE SEATS THAT WE'RE SITTING IN NOW.
MS. ALDERTON, I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU AND THAT WHICH YOU FREQUENTLY TELL US THAT THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE LARGER THAN OUR POWER TO SOLVE.
MS. NOLAN, I HAVE HER HAND RAISED.
THAT IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, MANY OF THE COMMENTS AND FEEDBACKS AND E MAILS WE'RE RECEIVING ARE ASKING US FOR THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THAT.
ONE THING IS IN OUR CONTROL, FEEDBACK, SIMILAR TO WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, I DO THINK, DR. HUTCHINGS, I APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU FRAMED THIS CONVERSATION, SORT OF GAVE CONTEXT AROUND THE PROPOSALS BEING MADE, I DO THINK IT'S A CONTINUOUS AREA OF IMPROVEMENT FOR US IN ACPS IN TERMS OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS.
WE ALSO JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS CAPTURED SOMEWHERE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN EASILY GO TO WITH A BUDGET.
I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS UNFORTUNATELY.
WE HAVE FORCED IN PARTICULAR TEACHERS TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN STORY.
WE ARE RECEIVING A NUMBER OF E MAILS FROM TEACHERS, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THEIR CONCERNS ARE NOT WHAT IS BEING REPRESENTED IN THE BUDGET.
THEY WERE FORCED TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN THE WAY THE MEMO SAID THAT WE'RE TAKING AWAY TWO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS, IT DID APPEAR THAT WE WERE TAKING TWO DAYS AWAY FROM TEACHERS.
I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU DID SUCH A GREAT JOB FRAMING THAT.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN AREA OF IMPROVEMENT FOR US, IS THAT WHERE IS THE GO TO PLACE, ON THE WEBSITE, WHERE IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR AS TO WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED.
WE'VE HAD SO MANY ASSUMPTIONS MADE IN THIS BUDGET.
I KNOW IT HAD TO BE DONE QUICKLY.
I DO FEEL FOR SO MANY OF THE STAFF THAT ARE WRITING US IN WITH CONCERNS, THAT ARE NOT ALIGNED TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
SO THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION I GUESS OUT THERE.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT IT ON THE STAFF SHOULDERS FOR THEM TO HAVE TO GUESS WHAT THE BUDGET IS.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT, THAT I DO THINK THAT EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD AND DR. HUTCHINGS AND CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO DO RIGHT BY THE STAFF.
I THINK SOME CLEAR COMMUNICATION COULD ASSIST THAT MESSAGE.
FEEDBACK MOVING FORWARD HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET PROCESS IS STRONGER WITH THE COMMUNICATION AND WHERE IS THE GO TO PLACE SO THAT THE STORIES AND RUMORS THAT ARE STARTING TO CIRCULATE DON'T TAKE PLACE.
INSTEAD PEOPLE HAVE A CENTRAL PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET ACCURATE INFORMATION VERSUS HAVING TO GUESS THEMSELVES.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT FEEDBACK.
I KNOW EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD, WE WANTED TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR ACPS EMPLOYEES,
[00:20:09]
TEACHERS, ADMIT STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS.I DO APPRECIATE YOU DR. HUTCHINGS COMING BACK TO THE BOARD WITH THE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE.
THE THING THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT THEM, THE AMOUNT OF THE PROPOSALS, $380,000 IS ABOUT THE SAME COST AS THE COST OF THE HEALTH CARE PREMIUM INCREASE.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU AND OTHERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHY YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT'S FEASIBLE, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T ENTIRELY AGREE WITH IT.
I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE IF WE WANTED TO DO THAT THAT WE COULD YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATIVELY I UNDERSTAND IT'S MORE CHALLENGING.
WE DO NOT HAVE A SET HEALTH PREMIUM ALLOWANCE FOR PEOPLE.
MY OWN SENSE IS THAT FROM THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE HEARD, I THINK PEOPLE DO UNDERSTAND HOW THE HEALTH CARE YOU KNOW, HOW HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS WORK.
LIKE WE CAN'T CONTROL HOW MUCH UNITED OR WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE CHARGING US, ADDITIONALLY NEXT YEAR.
WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT.
BUT THE ISSUE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT I'M HEARING FROM FOLKS IS IT'S LIKE THEIR HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS ARE GOING UP, BUT THEIR SALARY IS NOT.
SO IT'S RESULTING IN LESS TAKE HOME PAY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE THEY'RE BIGGER THAN WHAT ACPS NECESSARILY CAN CONTROL.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE YOU KNOW, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE.
AND I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE, THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I DON'T THINK THAT NOT DOING, YOU KNOW, STEP INCREASES OR MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR STAFF, CONTINUING TO SEE HEALTH PREMIUMS GO UP AND UP IS GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOR PEOPLE EITHER.
SO YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY WISH THAT WE COULD FIND A WAY TO, THIS ONE YEAR, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE FUTURE AGAIN IS UNCERTAIN.
MAYBE WE'LL SEE A TURN AROUND.
MAYBE THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL STIMULUS.
WHERE NEXT YEAR WE CAN DO A NEXT INCREASE OR HAVE A STEP INCREASE OR WHATEVER.
I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO THIS YEAR TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING HOME LESS PAY.
THE CONCERN I HAVE FOR THE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE, THERE IS A FIXED AMOUNT FOR EVERYONE.
TEACHERS WERE EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING, NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW, OR SOME IMPLIED THAT THERE MIGHT BE CUTS IN WHO WAS WORKING DURING THE SUMMER FOR THE SUMMER LEARNING.
AND I KNOW THAT MIGHT BE WAYS THAT TEACHERS ALSO TRY TO MAKE UP THOSE LOSSES OR WHATEVER AND JUST TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR SALARIES.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT IF YOU KNOW, HOW SOME OF THOSE OTHER KIND OF STIPEND OPPORTUNITIES, HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTING STAFF AS WELL, IF YOU COULD JUST TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> I THINK IT'S REALLY UNCERTAIN.
IT DEPENDS ON THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO.
I THINK OVER THE SUMMER, WE ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE STAFF MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO YOU KNOW, TO BE EMPLOYED IN OUR SUMMER PROGRAMMING THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR.
IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT THE FALL AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES LOOK LIKE.
ESPECIALLY WITH COACHING, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. BECAUSE WHAT MAKES THIS SO COMPLICATED FOR NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR IS THAT THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THIS CAN GO AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT OPTION IS GOING TO BE MOST FEASIBLE.
WHAT WE DO KNOW, THOUGH, IS THAT IN THE FALL, WE'RE MOST LIKELY NOT GOING TO HAVE 16,000 KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO OPEN OUR DOORS THAT WAY.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.
I DON'T THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HASN'T SAID THAT.
[00:25:01]
VDOE HASN'T SAID THAT.HOWEVER, YOU DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT SCHOOL BUILDINGS OPENING IN GOVERNOR'S PHASE ONE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAIR SALON, BUT YOU DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT SCHOOLS.
THEY DON'T HAVE A DATE FOR PHASE TWO.
THEY'RE JUST SAYING TO BE DETERMINED.
SO I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE, THAT IS GOING TO BRING SOME VERY EXPENSIVE COMPLICATIONS FOR US.
BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE US TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET KIDS TO AND FROM THE SCHOOL.
HOW TO HAVE STAGGERED BUS STOP TIMES SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T AT BUS STOPS.
SOME OF OUR BUS STOPS, WE CAN HAVE 20 KIDS AT ONE BUS STOP ON A CORNER.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE OUR TRANSITION TIMES DURING THE DAY SO THAT LET'S THINK OF TC WILLIAMS WITH 3,000 KIDS, HOW IS THAT GOING TO OCCUR WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING.
NOT POSSIBLE WITH ALL OF OUR KIDS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BEGIN, THIS IS WHAT OUR TEAM WILL BE DOING WITH THIS WHOLE REOPENING PLAN, COMING UP WITH YOU KNOW, KIND OF A PLAN HOW DO WE OPEN SCHOOLS, POSSIBLY 25 PERCENT OF THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL AT A TIME.
OR 50 PERCENT OF THE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL.
THAT REALLY IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON.
AND THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHETHER AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO BE, WHETHER COACHING OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOING TO.
THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO PAY COACHES AND WE WERE ABLE TO PAY YOU KNOW, STIPENDS TO FOLKS WHOSE YEARS WERE KIND OF TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AS OF MARCH.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO AN AGREEMENT AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO PAY COACHES IN THE SPRING EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE A SEASON.
OR WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU YOUR STIPEND.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMMIT TO THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT UP FRONT.
BECAUSE IF WE KEEP GOING DOWN THAT PATH, WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP TO NOT HAVE THE DOLLARS TO EVEN OPERATE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
AND YOU KNOW, THE VERY NERVE WRACKING THING FOR ME IS FOR ALL OF US, I HOPE, IS THE FACT THAT WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE MORE REDUCTIONS.
THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GIVEN TO THE BOARD NOW AS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASED ON US SEEING SOME TYPE OF OPENING OF THINGS, WHICH YOU KNOW, I DID MY RUN THIS MORNING, I SAW KING STREET GETTING PREPARED.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS MIGHT BE OPENING UP.
HOPEFULLY THINGS WON'T HAVE TO CLOSE AGAIN.
BECAUSE IF WE OPEN UP AND THEY CLOSE AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM.
BECAUSE OUR ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON US SEEING A TRAJECTORY OF THINGS GETTING BETTER.
AND IF THINGS GET WORSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND HAVE EVEN MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK.
WHAT WE COULD DO BUT NOW WE CAN'T.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN WE COULD HAVE ON THE OTHER END, THE FALL COMES, THE SPRING COMES AND WE END UP HAVING MORE REVENUE COMING IN THAN WE EXPECTED.
AND WE CAN REVISIT TALKING ABOUT ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS IN, WHICH I THINK TO ME WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, WHETHER IT'S A HALF STAFF, OR OTHER THINGS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IF WE GET MORE DOLLARS LATER INTO THE FUTURE.
I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO KEEP.
THAT WAS A LONG WINDED RESPONSE.
I WANT TO RECENTER US AGAIN ON THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION, WHICH IS NOT THE BUDGET THAT WE WANTED.
WE PASSED A GREAT BUDGET AND I THINK THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WAS INVOLVED IN THAT BUDGET.
NONE OF US WANT TO BE IN THIS SITUATION.
AND I CAN'T REITERATE THAT ENOUGH.
LOOKING FORWARD, I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS BOARD DOESN'T WANT THIS TO BE THE SITUATION GOING FORWARD.
WE'VE GOTTEN COMMENTARY, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY STEP INCREASES THIS YEAR, THAT IS THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
THAT COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
THIS BOARD WANTS THE BUDGET THAT WE ORIGINALLY PASSED TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE FORCED
[00:30:02]
TO DO THESE CUTS, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING ANY OF US WANT, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING ANY OF US THINK IS OPTIMAL BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.BUT I THINK GOING TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, I THINK TWO THINGS MATTER HERE.
ONE IS CONTEXT AND SECOND IS TRANSPARENCY.
WE HAVE BEEN IN A FLUID SITUATION WHERE A LOT OF STUFF IS GOING ON.
WE HAVE TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE TO CONTEXTUALIZE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO I DO SHARE THAT CONCERN ABOUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE DOING THESE SORT OF PROPOSALS AND AMENDMENTS, WE REALLY NEED TO PROVIDE AS MUCH OF THE RATIONALE AS POSSIBLE, AS MUCH OF THE CONTEXT AS POSSIBLE AND EXPLAIN IT AS THOROUGHLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO FRANKLY, THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS IT.
I WAS EVEN CONFUSED ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS, CANDIDLY, THE WAY THAT WAS PUT IN THE MEMO.
NOW YOUR CLARIFICATION MAKES IT CLEAR.
NO TEACHERS ARE LOSING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
IN FACT, IF THEY WANT TO DO A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY NEXT YEAR AND HAVE A ZOOM CALL TO DO THAT, I AM SURE THEY COULD TAKE A DAY TO DO THAT.
SO THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, SO ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANT TO SAY IS THAT I FEEL THE FRUSTRATION, I FEEL THE PAIN, AGAIN, WE NEED TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT.
380,000 IS BEING ALLOCATED TO THE POTENTIAL ADD OF $150 TO ALL STAFF, $250 FOR THE TEACHERS.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY.
WE'VE ALSO GOTTEN COMPLAINTS THAT THE CHIEFS AND THE PRINCIPALS ARE GETTING MRA.
I SAID THIS TO MY COLLEAGUES, I SHARE SOME OF MY CONCERNS.
BUT I KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES WHERE SOME OF THOSE STAFF MEMBERS ARE 7TH, 8TH IN THE REGION, IN TERMS OF COMPETITIVE SALARIES.
OUR TEACHERS ARE GETTING PAID AT A HIGHER PROPORTION AND RELATIVE TO THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND THERE IS LONG TERM DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND IMPLICATIONS HERE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO LOOK AT IS, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPLICATION OF TAKING, REMOVING THE PRINCIPAL AND CHIEF ADDITION, MRA ADDITION, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE REST OF THE STAFF.
I ASKED FOR THAT DATA FROM DR. HUTCHINGS, THE TOTAL RAISES FOR THOSE POSITIONS AMOUNT TO $84,000.
SO EVEN IF I WAS TO SAY LET'S TAKE ALL OF THAT OFF THE TABLE, AND I ADD THAT, WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION WHERE IT WAS ABOUT 460K.
WE HAVE TO BE BALANCING THE LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE.
THE THING THAT MATTERS TO ME MOST IS RETAINING AND KEEPING OUR TEACHERS.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS DIVISIVE CLIMATE.
I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS KIND OF HAVING TO DIG DEEP RIGHT NOW.
I JUST THINK THAT YOU KNOW, I GET THE CONCERNS, I SHARE A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATIONS.
BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT ADDITIONAL 40 OR $50 IS GOING TO MAKE A MATERIAL DIFFERENCE IN THE MEANTIME, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE EXPRESSED AND I AGREE WITH THEM, THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN COMPETITIVE WITH REGARD TO OUR PRINCIPALS IN CHIEFS, WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES OF RECRUITMENTS IN THEIR AREAS.
SO I SYMPATHIZE AND SHARE THE FRUSTRATION, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE DUG DEEP
[00:35:03]
TO FIND ANOTHER 150 OR $250, IN THIS BUDGET, I'VE LOOKED TOO, LIKE THAT IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE PROVIDING ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO BE HELPING THEM OUT IN THIS TIME.AND YOU KNOW, I WANT TO FURTHER CONTEXTUALIZE THIS, REMEMBER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS A TRILLION, YOU KNOW TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, JUST PASSED THE CARES ACT, THEY GAVE EVERYONE 1200 BUCKS OUT OF THAT.
WE'RE GIVING YOU $250 OR $150, DIGGING DEEP TO TRY TO FIND SOME MONEY FOR YOU.
AND SO LIKE I HAVE NUMEROUS FRIENDS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB, TAKEN 20, 30, 40 PERCENT CUTS TO THEIR SALARY.
YOU KNOW, BUT WHAT I HAVE ALSO READ AND HEARD IS THAT WE HAVE, WE GOT AN E MAIL TODAY THAT SOMEONE SAID THEIR HEALTH CARE PREMIUM WAS GOING TO GO UP BY 12 BUCKS A MONTH, $144, $150 WOULD MAKE THAT PERSON WHOLE VIS A VIS THE PAYMENT FOR THIS.
I THINK WITH THESE MEASURES, THEY'RE NOT PERFECT.
I IDEALLY WANT TO GO BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET.
I THINK IT CONSTITUTES A GOOD FAITH EFFORT ON THE BOARD'S PART AND DR. HUTCHINGS PART TO MAKE OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF WHOLE.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, IT'S A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO MAKE OUR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS WHOLE.
WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
EVEN IF WE WERE TO TAKE THE CHIEFS AND PRINCIPALS MRA OFF THE TABLE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE MADE WHOLE BY ALL THAT MUCH MORE.
LIKE I SAID, IF FOLKS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT $250, I DON'T SEE WHY GIVING ANOTHER 40, 50 DOING IS GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MY COMMENTS ARE VERY FACT BASED, BUT I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES IN THESE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF EMOTIONS AND WE'RE ALL VERY ON EDGE AND FRUSTRATED, LIKE I SAID FOR THE FIFTH TIME NOW, LIKE I FEEL THOSE FRUSTRATIONS, I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THINGS INTO THE CONTEXT AND YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE FACTS SO THAT WE MAKE SMART DECISIONS AS A BOARD.
AND SO YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO BEAR THAT IN MIND, AS WE DO THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN DECIDE WHAT THE BEST FORWARD MIGHT BE.
DO YOU WANT MS. GENTRY TO GO FIRST.
YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN AND MS. GENTRY HAS NOT.
IF THAT IS FINE WITH YOU, YOU CAN YIELD TO MS. GENTRY.
>> I YIELD TO YOU, MS. GENTRY.
I WAS HAVING TROUBLE LAST MEETING WITH THE MUTE.
>> AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I WANTED TO START BY TAKING A MOMENT TO PUBLICLY THANK MY COLLEAGUES, FOR THEIR IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS BY PROPOSING ADD/DELETES.
EVEN IN NORMAL TIMES, WHEN ONE CAN THINK OF THE ADDS TO THE BUDGET, IT'S CHALLENGING TO FIND COMPARABLE DELETES.
THE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN NOW IS UNPRECEDENTED, AND FAR MORE CHALLENGING.
IT TAKES COURAGE AND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK TO SCRUTINIZE THE BUDGET.
I THINK WHAT IS POWERFUL ABOUT THE PROCESS IS EVEN IF THE PARTICULAR ITEMS THAT ARE PROPOSED, IT CAN HELP CLARIFY BUDGET PRIORITIES AND LEAD TO A BETTER ADJUSTMENT.
THE EFFORTS OF THE THREE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HELPEDED EVOLVE THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING TODAY AND HAVE STRENGTHENED THE BUDGET PROCESS.
MY SINCERE THANKS TO THOSE THREE MEMBERS.
I'M PLEASED THAT FURTHER SCRUTINY HAS BROUGHT FORTH OPTIONS THAT PROVIDE ALL OF OUR STAFF RELIEF.
I'M SAYING NOW THAT IT'S MY PREFERENCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OPTION ONE OF
[00:40:07]
ELIMINATING THE PROFESSIONAL DAYS AND PROVIDING 250 ONE TIME PAYMENT TO THE TEACHERS.AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, OUR ORIGINAL INTENT WITH OUR BUDGET WAS TO HAVE A STEP INCREASE, WHICH WOULD HAVE INCREASED TAKE HOME PAY TO HELP OFFSET THESE ANNUAL HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES.
THE PROPOSED PAYMENT WILL HELP, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT DOES NOT COMPLETELY OFFSET THE INCREASE.
THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAS SIGNIFICANT CUTS.
IN AN ORGANIZATION WHERE 88 PERCENT OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET IS DEVOTED TO STAFF COMPENSATION, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO OFFSET THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT BY CUTTING FROM THE REMAINING 12 PERCENT FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET.
WE WILL HAVE TO SEE IN THE COMING YEAR WHAT KINDS OF ADJUSTMENTS MIGHT BE POSSIBLE IN THE LONG TERM.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD NOW WITH THE BUDGET NOW.
WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE HAVE NOW.
AND WITH ALL OF THE SORT OF BUILT IN UNKNOWNS THAT WE HAVE NOW.
THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC MEANS THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD FULLY WITH ALL OF OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT WE ESTABLISHED LAST FALL.
HOWEVER, WHILE THE IMPACT IS SIGNIFICANT, WE MUST DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHATEVER BUDGET PRIORITIES WE CAN WITH THIS NEW REALITY.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO THINK IN TERMS OF LONG TERM STRATEGIC GOALS.
WE MUST THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN WEATHER THE CURRENT YEAR BUT THINK BEYOND THIS YEAR.
AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAVE LONGSTANDING COMPENSATION ISSUES WITH CERTAIN OF OUR STAFF.
FOR MANY YEARS, IT'S THE PRINCIPALS AND LEADERSHIP AND ACPS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LOWEST OF NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS.
EVERY YEAR THAT WE FAIL TO ADDRESS THIS COMPENSATION ISSUE IS A YEAR THAT WE'RE JEOPARDIZING THE SUCCESS FOR OUR SCHOOLS.
WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH THAT SHOWS QUALITY LEADERSHIP IS THE NUMBER ONE FACTOR FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS.
BECAUSE THIS IS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR OVERALL STAFF, THE FUNDS NEEDED TO ADDRESS THIS DEFICIT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR.
EVEN WITH OUR CONSTRAINED BUDGET.
I CANNOT JUSTIFY NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS BUDGET PRIORITY OF ADDRESSING THIS COMPENSATION ISSUE.
I REGRET THAT WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD ON BOTH THE STEP INCREASE AND MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT.
BUT I CAN'T JUSTIFY NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ONE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO.
THERE ARE SURVEYS THAT ARE COMING OUT THAT SUGGESTS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT 20 PERCENT OF EDUCATORS MAY NOT RETURN TO THEIR SCHOOLS IN THE FALL.
I WOULD HATE TO LOSE A SINGLE ONE OF THE AMAZING STAFF THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO AVOID RIFS.
IF WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT CHOOSE NOT TO RETURN, IT'S THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO SET UP ACPS FOR SUCCESS.
A KEY ELEMENT OF RECRUITMENT IS COMPENSATION.
WHEN LOOKING AT OUR TEACHERS, WE SEE THAT WE ARE WELL POSITIONED.
WHILE WE'RE NOT OFFERING A STEP INCREASE THIS YEAR, NEITHER ARE OUR NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS.
IN CONTRAST OUR COMPENSATION FOR PRINCIPALS IS ONE OF THE LOWEST.
IT HAS A RIPPLE IMPACT TO RETAINING OUR TEACHERS.
TEACHER RETENTION IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO SCHOOL SUCCESS.
WE WILL STRUGGLE IF WE DON'T PRIORITIZE COMPENSATION FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
PRINCIPALS WON'T COME TO ACPS AND/OR THEY WILL LEAVE ACPS TO FILL OPENINGS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GRANTING ME THIS LONGER THAN USUAL TIME TO SPEAK.
I AM PLEASED TO SUPPORT PROVIDING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION THAT WE CAN FOR OUR TEACHERS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THE STRATEGIC PRIORITY OF PROVIDING APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION IN THE KEY AREAS SUCH AS SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND ALSO OUR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.
>> I'M GLAD I LET YOU GO FIRST SO I WON'T REPEAT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU SAID.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE.
ONE THING I FEEL CONFIDENT IS IN EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS THE BEST OF INTENTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO WANTING TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF.
I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO BE IN THIS TOUGH SITUATION WITH PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR STAFF.
THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY SERIOUS TIME.
IT'S STARTLING WHEN YOU SEE IN THE NEWS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ON BORDER WITH THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN, DUE TO DR. RIEF'S QUESTION, I REALLY APPRECIATE DR. HUTCHINGS, YOU BEING SO TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL AS WE
[00:45:01]
PROCEED FORWARD BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS THAT PEOPLE CANNOT EXPECT IN THE FALL DUE TO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A NORMAL FALL YEAR.IF WE CAN CONTINUE AND STRIVE FOR OVER COMMUNICATING BE TRANSPARENT, I THINK THAT WILL GO LIGHT WAYS AWAY.
I AM GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE MRA RECOMMENDATION, IN ADDITION TO WHAT SOME OTHER FOLKS SAID, THE NUMBER ONE REASON OF WHY I WANT TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF INSTRUCTION THAT SO MANY STUDENTS RECEIVED LAST YEAR DUE TO SO MANY SNAFOOS WE HAD, BUS DRIVERS NOT BEING ABLE TO FILL THE POSITIONS, THE NUMBER ONE DATA IN NATIONAL RESEARCH AS WELL AS EVEN THE ACPA SURVEYS, A STRONG PRINCIPAL AND STRONG CHIEFS IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE ARE WHAT MAKE A TEACHER WANTING TO BE RETAINED.
TRYING TO PUT US IN A POSITION SO THAT WE CAN RECRUIT STRONG PRINCIPALS IS GOING TO HELP US RECRUIT, RETAIN AND SUPPORT STRONG TEACHERS.
BECAUSE OF MY WANTING THE STAFF TO GET THE LEADERSHIP IN FUTURE YEARS THAT THEY DESERVE IS WHY I THINK THE MRA IS IN A CRITICAL SITUATION.
WHILE I SINCERELY WISH IT COULD BE MORE, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE TALKING NOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, WE ARE STRIVING TO OFFSET ANY COSTS THAT TEACHERS ARE GOING TO INCUR WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE INCREASES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF THE $150 INCREASE WITH THE THINKING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST EQUITABLE ACROSS THE DIVISION, AS I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER NON TEACHER POSITIONS THAT WORK HARD FOR THE DIVISION.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M MAKING AN ASSUMPTION, BUT MY ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THOSE POSITIONS RECEIVING THE INCREASE WILL BE RECEIVING THAT INCREASE AND THAT THE $150 BONUS WOULD BE FOR NON MRA INCREASED EMPLOYEES.
SO MAYBE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GET CLARIFICATION ABOUT THAT.
MY HOPE IS TO TRY TO SUPPORT THE STAFF AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
IT SEEMS LIKE ACCORDING TO THE BUDGET THAT IS THE BEST WE CAN DO.
>> BECAUSE THE BOARD ASKED FOR ALL STAFF WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS, WE PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH THE NUMBER FOR ALL STAFF, EVERY STAFF MEMBER.
BUT OUR INTENT IS TO TRY TO HAVE IT SO IF THE BOARD RECOMMENDS TO HAVE THE MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES AND THEN THE ONE TIME PAYMENT FOR THE OTHERS.
>> IS THERE A WAY WE CAN INCREASE THAT NUMBER FOR ALL STAFF, TAKE THE POT OF MONEY HOPING IS AVAILABLE, AND THEN DIVIDE IT?
>> REMEMBER, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT'S $150 PER PERSON AND THEN WE SPREAD IT OUT OVER ALL THE STAFF.
SO IT MIGHT INCREASE BY LIKE 4 OR $5, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
THE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE AND FUNDS WILL INCREASE FROM BOTH THE STATE AND LOCALITIES BASED ON A MORE ROBUST FINANCIAL POSITION AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN OFFER STEP INCREASES.
>> MR. TURNER, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> IT WOULD BE 8 EXTRA DOLLARS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD CORRECTLY.
WHAT WE COULD OPT FOR, THIRD OPTION WOULD BE TO PROVIDE A ONE TIME PAYMENT THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $158 TO ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING AN MRA IN THE
[00:50:03]
BUDGET, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT MR. TURNER?$150 FOR 2500 EMPLOYEES, LESS THE EMPLOYEES THAT RECEIVE THE MRA.
IF WE CAN'T COVER, AGAIN, THE COST OF THE HEALTH CARE PREMIUM INCREASE, THEN I AM ALSO IN FAVOR OF DOING THE OPTION TWO AND THE VARIATION WHERE WE PROVIDED FOR EVERYONE WHO IS NOT RECEIVING THE MARKET RATE ADJUSTMENT.
WHILE I KNOW TEACHERS PLAY SUCH A CRITICAL ROLE, HOURLY PARAS, CAFETERIA STAFF AND CUSTODIANS, I KNOW THAT THEY ARE EARNING LESS THAN TEACHERS.
I KNOW THAT THESE HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS ARE GOING TO HIT THEM PARTICULARLY HARD.
SO I WANT TO EXTEND THAT ONE TIME PAYMENT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.
SO THAT WOULD BE WHERE I WOULD CHOOSE TO GIVE MY SUPPORT.
>> I SEE WE HAVE MS. THORNTON AND THEN AFTER THAT, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF ACTUALLY A THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS AND GIVE THEIR OPINIONS.
WE HAVE TO SORT OF WORK TOWARDS SOME CLOSURE FOR STAFF.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THIS VARIATION OF OPTION TWO, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAD WRITTEN DOWN FROM THE BEGINNING AS A POSSIBILITY.
AND I WANTED TO KIND OF SEE WHERE MY BOARD MEMBERS WERE LEANING.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ELEVATE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AT THIS TIME AND WE HAVE BEEN HEARING PRIMARILY FROM OUR TEACHERS, BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST VISIBLE FRONT LINE WORKERS THAT ARE DEALING WITH THESE SITUATIONS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
BUT THERE ARE OTHERS TOO WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS.
AND SO I DO WANT TO SEE AN OPTION IN WHICH WE CAN GIVE A ONE TIME PAYMENT TO ALL EMPLOYEES.
I AM IN FAVOR OF THAT ONE TIME PAYMENT BEING TO ALL EMPLOYEES EXCEPT THOSE RECEIVING THE MRA.
I THINK IT'S THE EQUITABLE THING TO DO RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN'T GIVE INCREASES TO EVERYONE.
SO THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY GETTING SOMEWHAT OF AN INCREASE TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE, I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE GETTING AN ADDITIONAL ONE TIME PAYMENT RIGHT NOW CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
I JUST WANTED TO VOICE THE POINT THAT I AM IN FAVOR OF OPTION THREE.
THAT WAS A GREAT QUESTION YOU ASKED EARLIER.
I THINK MY QUESTION WAS ACTUALLY ANSWERED.
SO YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE SORT OF SHARING, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF OPTION THREE.
WELL, WITH THAT, THAT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT LEAD IN TO HAVE OUR FIRST THUMBS UP ACTIVITY, BECAUSE I THINK I MIGHT HAVE HEARD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT, MAYBE MINDS HAVE BEEN CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSION.
SO WE CAN'T REALLY DO A VISUAL THUMBS UP, BECAUSE I CAN'T SEEM TO GET MY VIDEO WORKING THIS MORNING, BUT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY THE CLERK THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE ROLL CALL.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE SOME TRACTION WITH THE NUMBER 3 OPTION, THE HYBRID SORT OF, I GUESS A VARIATION OF OPTION, THE ONE OPTION OF GIVING ALL STAFF MEMBERS EXCEPT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO GET AN MRA THE 158, IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT WOULD BE.
SO I GUESS I WILL GO DOWN THE ROLL CALL AND YOU CAN SAY THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT PARTICULAR OPTION.
WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT STAFF HAVE ASKED US TO GIVE THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN FEEDBACK ON.
AND ONE WAS FOR THIS CIP CHANGES.
[00:55:01]
SO IN OTHER WORDS, TO ACCEPT, THE THUMBS UP WOULD MEAN WE ACCEPT THE CIP CHANGES, PRESENTED I BELIEVE MAY 8TH.THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS, NO ADD/DELETES ABOUT THE CIP.
SO JUST TO SORT OF MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE COVERED ALL OF THE BASES, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH AND JUST ASK IN CASE THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HADN'T BEEN AWARE OF BEFORE.
SO IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES FOR THE CIP, 2130 BUDGET, I WILL CALL YOUR NAME, CINDY ANDERSON YES.
>> DR. HUTCHINGS HAD HIS HAND UP.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE.
BUT THEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE SEEMED FROZEN SO MAYBE IT WAS ME.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD, DO WE NEED TO MENTION THE ORIGINAL ADD/DELETES OR IS THAT NOT REQUIRED TO DO? MEANING THAT YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THE ORIGINAL ADD/DELETE REQUESTS AS WELL, SO THEY'RE ON THE RECORD AS DISCUSSION, OR BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT OUR FIRST SESSION THAT IS CLASSIFIED ON THE RECORD.
IN TERMS OF YOUR REVISED BUDGET, WE DIDN'T GET ANY ADD/DELETES ON THE REVISED BUDGET.
ONLY THE REQUEST THAT I SUBMITTED THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING, THE OTHER ADD/DELETES WERE ALREADY OFF THE RECORD.
MR. TURNER, DID YOU WANT TO CHIME IN.
>> THERE WERE SEVEN ADD/DELETES REQUESTS SUBMITTED FOR THE COMBINED FUNDS BUDGET.
I WANTED TO HAVE THE ROLL CALL FOR THOSE.
I KNOW THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE REVISED OPTION TWO PRESENTED TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE OR ARE NOT GOING WITH THE OTHER SEVEN SUBMISSIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED BACK ON, I FORGET THE DATE, MAY 18TH.
SO YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THE CIP BECAUSE THERE ARE NO ADD/DELETES.
>> I MEAN, WE WOULD STILL LIKE TO HEAR THE SUPPORT FOR THE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE CIP.
BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO GET TO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RECORD ARE WE OR ARE WE NOT, I KNOW WE HAD THE ROLL CALL FOR THE OPTION THREE, BUT IF I COULD GET THE CONFIRMATION ON THE OTHER SEVEN ADD/DELETES THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I WAS GOING FOR EASIEST FIRST AND NUMBER ONE ON MY LIST IN THE MEMO.
I THINK I WAS AT MS. ALDERTON.
BECAUSE SHE IS THE ONE WHO TOLD ME THAT DR. HUTCHINGS WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
>> NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE MORE EXCITING AND COMPLICATED ONE.
ABOUT THE ADD/DELETES THE ONLY ONES SUBMITTED THAT HAD ENOUGH SUPPORT WERE ALL ADDS.
WE KNOW THAT IS A VERY, WE ARE NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO THAT IS NOT A
[01:00:01]
TENABLE SITUATION.SO WE WILL I GUESS GO THROUGH, I NOTICE THAT WHAT WAS POSTED TODAY ACTUALLY HAD THE ACPS LOGO OVER PART OF THE SPREADSHEET.
SO I DON'T KNOW, IS THAT EASILY SHARED, MR. TURNER, SO THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH? BECAUSE IT'S MICROSCOPIC ON TOP OF HAVING THE ACPS LOGO OVER THE SPREADSHEET.
>> AN ADD, 60,000 AND THEN A DELETE.
SO IT WAS THE READING, ALL THE MRAS I BELIEVE THAT TURNED OUT TO BE.
BECAUSE THAT AMOUNT WOULD INVOLVE ALL OF THE MRAS.
DID WE WANT TO DELETE ALL OF THE MRAS IN ORDER TO USE THAT TOWARD HEALTH INSURANCE OFFSET.
THUMBS UP WOULD MEAN THAT YOU WANTED TO DELETE ALL OF THE MRAS TO ADD TO THE HEALTH CARE INCREASES.
FOR ME, IT WOULD BE THUMBS DOWN.
THE NEXT WOULD BE ABOUT DELETING THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM, THAT IS ONE OF THEM.
>> I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S RECEIVING THE SUPPORT AS WELL AS THE DATA BACKING IT UP THAT IT'S READY AND WHAT DOES IT NEED TO BE DONE TO STRENGTHEN IN THE ELEMENTARY AREAS IN ORDER TO GET IT READY.
I WOULD SUPPORT THIS THUMBS UP.
THUMBS UP IS SUPPORTING THE DELETIONS, THUMBS DOWN IS NOT SUPPORTING THE DELETION.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHAT THE CLERK WILL WANT ME TO REPORT AT THE END.
THERE IS NO CORRESPONDING DELETES.
SO THIS IS ONE REALLY THAT IS TAKING THE THREE TEACHER RESERVE POSITIONS.
SO MAYBE WE WILL DO IT ON THAT.
WE'LL JUST DO THE THUMBS UP OR DOWN ON THAT.
BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT MONEY, YOU CAN'T SUPPORT AN ADDITION.
I CAN'T SEE IF ANYONE HAS GOT THEIR HAND UP.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT BEFORE WE HAVE A THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN EXERCISE?
[01:05:13]
>> I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO WITHDRAW THIS.
THIS IS A PLACEHOLDER TO ALLOW US TO HAVE THE MRA CONVERSATION.
I'M HAPPY TO WITHDRAW IT OR FIND A WAY THAT WE COULD COMMUNICATE THAT.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET DOMINICK WHAT HE NEEDS.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THESE ARE GOING TO PROCEED FORWARD.
I'M WILLING TO SAY THUMBS DOWN ON ALL OF THESE.
MAYBE WE'LL GO THROUGH ONE MORE TIME AND SEE IF THERE IS ANYONE, MAYBE RAISE YOUR HAND IF THERE IS ANYTHING REMAINING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT STILL.
>> I GIVE MR. TURNER COMPLETE CLOSURE.
>> SEEING NOBODY RAISING THEIR HANDS, OR TEXTING ME, MR. TURNER, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS?
THAT SATISFIES WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING SURE THAT MR. TURNER AND YOUR LEADERSHIP CHAIR ANDERSON.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE ASKED, I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY IS WHETHER WE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE GRANT AND SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND BUDGET CHANGES.
I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION, IS THIS ABOUT THE CARES ACT MONEY AND YOUR PROPOSED AREAS OF UTILIZATION?
>> WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE SPECIFICS ON THOSE CATEGORIES.
WE HAVE NOT SHARED THAT WITH THE BOARD YET.
>> WE WILL HEAR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AS TIME GOES ON.
SO I GUESS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS IF SOMEONE HAS, BECAUSE IT'S IN MY MEMO THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO ASK YOU ALL ABOUT IT TODAY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THE BASICALLY FOUR CATEGORIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR USE.
I THINK WE NEED MORE INFORMATION.
>> I'M JUST THINKING FOR THE SAKE OF THE PUBLIC, THIS IS PUBLIC, RIGHT? IF SOMEONE HAS THEM HANDY.
>> WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFICS IN REGARDS TO WHAT THAT ACTION PLANNING AND WHAT THOSE BUDGET ITEMS ARE YET.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOOD ON THAT.
MR. TURNER, YOU CAN TELL ME IF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE YOU NEEDED.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.
AND SO IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, THEN I THINK WE'RE DONE.
DR. HUTCHINGS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
[01:10:02]
>> I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS OTHER THAN THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF WHO ARE WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND TO RESPOND NOT ONLY TO OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO TO OUR INTERIM STAFF.
I DO WANT TO ALSO THANK OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO SENT IN E MAILS AND MADE COMMENTS.
BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE HELPFUL TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM.
WHETHER YOU ALL BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I ACTUALLY HAVE TO READ ALL OF THOSE E MAILS BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE NOT READING THEM.
SO I LITERALLY, THAT IS WHY YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN A REPLY BACK FROM ME YET, BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ABOUT 200 OF THEM OVER THE NEXT DAY.
BUT I WILL GET THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND YOU MAY GET A SIMILAR RESPONSE.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE READ, SO I CAN KNOW IF MY RESPONSE IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR E MAIL.
I WILL BE LOOKING THROUGH ALL OF THOSE.
SO I WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.
I WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD TOO.
I KNOW THIS IS ALWAYS A TOUGH DECISION WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH THE BUDGET.
I THINK DURING THESE TIMES IT'S WORSE AND HARDER FOR US AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR US.
BUT I TRULY BELIEVE AS MS. NOLAN SAID EARLIER, STAFF, BOARD, ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE ALL HERE WITH INTENTIONS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR EVERYBODY, INCLUDING OUR CHILDREN IN THE CENTER.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL DEMONSTRATE THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME WE ARE, WHETHER IT'S INTERACTIONS BEHIND THE SCENES OR IN PUBLIC, I KNOW THAT THAT IS THE CORE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM AND US DOING THESE MAKING THESE DECISIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY TOO.
THANK MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK AND CREATIVITY AND YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION UNTIL WE GET TO THIS POINT WHERE I THINK WE'RE ALL, I CAN'T THINK ANYMORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN JANUARY.
BECAUSE IT WAS AN AMAZING BUDGET.
BUT WE'LL CARRY ON AND HOPE THAT THINGS GET BETTER.
I'VE BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH TEACHERS AND HOW THEY'RE WORKING WITH THEIR STUDENTS.
SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT NOT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM EVERYTHING WE PLANNED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET SEASON.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A NICE WEEKEND WEATHER WISE.
SO I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE.
BYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.