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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE <br />HELD ON Friday, March 21, 2003 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Basement Conference Room. <br /> <br />THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: <br /> <br /> Lunch meeting with School Board <br /> <br />BY ORDER OF THE MA YOR BY Jeanne Cox <br /> <br />BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - March 21, 2003 <br /> <br /> Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: <br />Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards. Absent: Mr. Schilling. <br /> <br />BUDGET <br /> <br /> Mr. Ed Gillespie, Finance Director for City Schools, gave an overview of the <br />School Board's proposed budget. It includes a 3 1/2% average increase for all staff, an <br />8% increase in insurance, and an addition of .25 of a position. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Mr. Gilles pie said the numbers for out of <br />district students will remain in tact, and while the tuition will increase, the revenue <br />increase will not be significant. <br /> <br /> Mr. Ron Hutchinson, Superintendent of Schools, said the out of district policy <br />will still be based o n student capacity. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards asked if there are any policy changes reflected in the budget, and <br />Mr. Gillespie said "No Child Left Behind" legislation. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked if the Schools have considered purchasing used computer <br />equipment rather than new , and Mr. Gillespie said that a committee establishes baseline <br />standards for computers, but they have not considered purchasing used equipment. <br /> <br /> Mr. Gillespie said that the Schools are converting data into a different format to <br />make it more usable, and ar e redoing their website. <br /> <br /> Ms. Linda Bowen, School Board Chair, said that a career counselor is being hired <br />at the high school. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hutchinson said that in addition to the career counselor, who will also be used <br />at Buford, a reading teacher and math teac her is being added at the high school. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said it seems that the goal of increasing teacher salaries has largely <br />been met and asked if the School Board has come to the same conclusion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hutchinson said that the current teacher salaries have a llowed City Schools to <br />remain competitive, but said salaries will have to remain a priority. He said that salaries <br />are the highest priority for new teachers. Mr. Hutchinson said that the total compensation <br />package needs to be looked at. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would like to see the focus back on school programs. <br /> <br /> Ms. Peggy Van Yahres, School Board member, said that the Schools have very <br />strong programs for talent development and academic development. <br /> <br /> Ms. Artie Dimberg, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, said that an English as a <br />Second Language (ESL) Induction Center, to be operated jointly with Albemarle County, <br />is proposed to address children who are not literate in English, especially those at the <br />