2005-03-30 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Wednesday, March 30, 2005 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Budget Work Session with School Board BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - March 30, 2005 (12:00 noon) Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schilling. Mr. Caravati said he would like to see the School's budget broken out into State categories. Mr. Ed Gillaspie, Finance Director for the Schools, said that the Schools are required by the State to report along those categories, but they are not linked to the budget data. He said a decision was made to break the budget down by location or programs for the budget document as it was felt by the School Board and community that using the State categories in the budget was not useful information. Dr. Scottie Griffin, Superintendent of Schools, said that the current budget format is the same as has been used for the past ten years. Mr. Caravati said he thinks teachers need a bigger salary increase, but he cannot tell based on the budget. He expressed concern about there being enough leadership in the Schools to make the budget work. He said he would rather give input by category than vote against the entire budget. Dr. Brown asked if Mr. Caravati's concern is that that he wants the Schools to remain competitive. Mr. Caravati said yes, that is his concern. He noted that last year he was against the proposed salary increase. He said his concern is that we will have wholesale evaporation of our best teachers due to morale issues and salaries. Mr. Gillaspie said that the City Schools are at or near the top of all schools in the surrounding districts. He said Albemarle County is doing a little more than City Schools this year. Mr. Caravati asked how the School Board and division plan to deal with the morale issue. Ms. Dede Smith, Chair of the Schools Board, said that Mr. Caravati's concern is shared by many. She said the biggest booster is to see success with students. She said the School Board agrees about salary as one factor in attracting and retaining teachers. She said if it is the will of Council that the Board go back to discuss increasing salaries, perhaps the Council would be willing to help out. Mr. Caravati asked how the School Board will signal to employees that the morale problem is behind us. Ms. Smith said that the Schools are beginning the process of strategic planning and will bring the community and staff together to craft a vision of where we need to go. Mr. Caravati said he does not see a path to get us away from this situation and to stop his phone from ringing.