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<br /> Ms. Atkins said separate meetings were not held with the CLASS Council, and
<br />that should have been done. She said they did a written transitional plan and she thinks it
<br />will be successful.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Norris said he was pleased to hear the preliminary results of the success of the
<br />three year old program.
<br />
<br />PUBLIC HEARING
<br />: SCHOOL BOARD’S PROPOSED FY 2010 BUDGET
<br />
<br /> Mr. Norris said that because of the late hour and the presence of several children
<br />in the audience, he will allow comments on the School Board’s budget separately.
<br />
<br /> The public hearing on the School Board’s proposed budget was opened.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Kim Daves, 710 Hinton Avenue, President of the Parent Advisory Council
<br />for CLASS, said the program needs dedicated leadership. She said the process was
<br />flawed. She said there is a problem with the timing of the transition, and principals have
<br />not been engaged in CLASS programs.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Stuart Taylor, 710 Hinton Avenue, asked for one year of funding for the
<br />CLASS coordinator so that the coordinator can focus on current duties, not the transition.
<br />He asked principals to visit the program and attend Parent Advisory Council meetings,
<br />and asked that a School Board member be designated to attend the meetings as well.
<br />
<br /> Mr. Juan Wade, 909 St. Charles Avenue, School Board member, thanked Council
<br />for its support. Regarding CLASS, he said the School Board has heard the concerns of
<br />the public. He said the decisions makers are very familiar with the CLASS program, and
<br />noted that his daughter is in the program.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Llezelle Dugger, School Board member, echoed Mr. Wade’s concerns. She
<br />said she also has a child in the program. She said the School Board and Superintendent
<br />want to assure that the program gets better and grows.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Leah Puryear, School Board member, said she appreciates the Schools
<br />providing students for the Upward Bound program.
<br />
<br /> Ms. Maggie Kelly, 1628 Mason Lane, said there needs to be a transition for the
<br />CLASS program, and asked that the coordinator be kept.
<br />
<br /> As there were no further speakers on the School Board’s budget, the public
<br />hearing was closed.
<br />
<br />PRESENTATION
<br />: CITY MANAGER’ PROPOSED FY 2010 BUDGET
<br />
<br /> Mr. O’Connell reviewed the proposed FY 2009-2010 budget. He said that for the
<br />majority of property owners, there will be no increase or a decrease in property taxes,
<br />there are no tax rate increases, and it is a lean, flat budget, yet no cuts in services. He
<br />said it is a responsible budget in difficult economic times and one that is conservative,
<br />focuses strategically, meets community needs, continues quality services, reflects
<br />Council’s priorities, and has no increase in taxes. He said Council priorities are funded in
<br />the following areas: workforce development and poverty initiatives, summer youth
<br />mentoring work program, fare free transit program for VIEW Workforce clients,
<br />Dialogue on Race, energy conservation, and affordable housing. He said the total
<br />operating budget is $127,085,950, a decrease of .23%. He said 14 full time positions are
<br />reduced city-wide for a savings of $700,000; operational budgets are streamlined and
<br />reduced with over $580,000 in savings; and a 1.28% increase or $509,000 is budgeted for
<br />the Schools. He said the proposed capital improvement budget is $8,000,000 less than
<br />the current year. He said the second year of funding for the new Smith Pool Aquatic
<br />Center is budgeted in the CIP as well as $1 million for affordable housing, $600,000 for
<br />stormwater; and $125,000 for home energy conservation. He said $2.8 million has been
<br />set aside for an economic downtown fund for dealing with further declines in the
<br />economy.
<br />
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