2009-01-23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Friday, January 23, 2009 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Basement Conference Room. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Luncheon meeting with School Board BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM – January 23, 2009 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Mr. Huja, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Absent: Dr. Brown and Ms. Edwards. Ms. Rosa Atkins, Superintendent of Schools, said staff would like to get Council’s initial thoughts and reactions to the proposed school budget and efficiency review report. Mr. Ed Gillaspie, Director of Finance for the Schools, Faye Giglio, Director of Human Resources, and Ms. Gertrude Ivory, Associate Superintendent of Schools, reviewed the School’s proposed general fund budget and revenues. Mr. Norris said he assumes that the teacher salary increase recommended is to make City Schools more competitive since other localities are not giving raises. Ms. Atkins said yes, and the thinking is that it will result in more stability. Ms. Atkins said that the cost for legal counsel now is between $60,000 and $200,000 a year and counsel is only sought when it is really needed. She said that puts the Schools at a real disadvantage. She said they would like to change to have in-house counsel and are looking at possible ways to partner with the City. Mr. Norris asked if the proposed budget reflects any recommendations from the efficiency study. Ms. Atkins said no, that reductions were based on staffing formulas. Mr. Ned Michie, Chair of the School Board, said that cuts have been made to the budget without having to make more drastic changes recommended in the efficiency study such as closing an elementary school, increasing class size, reducing instructional assistants and transportation. He said there is time to discuss these recommendations with the community over the next year. Mr. Michie said discussions will include the th possibility of returning 5 grade to the elementary schools and consolidating Buford and Walker. Mr. Norris said he thinks there is value to looking at re-engineering the elementary and upper elementary schools beyond the issue of space. He said there are a lot of transitions for children now and he thinks it would be good even if it did not save money. He asked if the study discussed opportunities for increased collaboration/ cooperation with Albemarle County Schools. Mr. Michie said the study commended the Schools for work they are doing with Albemarle County and the City. Ms. Atkins said the study did not look at the structure of Albemarle County Schools to see if there are opportunities for partnering, but staff is continuing to work with Albemarle County. She said she would like to talk about what an ideal middle school would look like.