2001-12-14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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222 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Friday, December 14, 2001 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Walker Upper Elementary School. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Luncheon meeting with School Board BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox WALKER UPPER ELEMENTARY SCltOOL - December 14, 2001 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Toscano. Absent: Ms. Richards. Mr. Jim Henderson,, Principal of Walker School, discussed programs offered at Walker. Mr. Tom Meek, School Facilities Manager, explained that he was asked by the School Superintendent to develop a long range capital project plan for the schools. Mr. Meek presented the capital needs for the schools, and noted that there is a $700,000 deficit beginning in FY 04. Dr. William Symons, School Superintendent, said that the question is how to use the school's resources to keep facilities from detracting from the main mission of the schools. Mr. O'Connell summarized the city-wide capital project needs, and said that meeting these needs is a quality of life issue. Mr. O'Connell noted that in general all capital improvement program funds come from the taxpayers. Mr. O'Connell explained that there are 39 City buildings and 10 school buildings, and $10 million is proposed for the schools in the five-year plan. Mr. O'Connell said that the City has between $20 million and $22 million in bonds currently. Mr. O'Connell said there needs to be some priority setting since there is not enough money to do what is needed. In addition, he said there may need to be some program reductions or new revenue sources identified. Dr. Symons said the question is not about the support from the City, but how do we muster the courage to reallocate how we spend, which staff can you afford to cut, and how do you balance salaries with the capital needs. Dr. Symons said an additional question is how long can elementary schools of only 200 children be supporter[ Dr. Symons said he thinks these questions need to be answered now; not later in the midst of a lot of emotion. Mr. Cox said that ways need to be found to become more efficient or revenues need to be increased, and said that this is a community that wants it all. The community wants a new pre-school but has school buildings that are falling apart. Mr. Cox said that months have been spent debating something that cannot be done (a separate facility for the pre-school program), and said the issue needs to be put to rest and move on. Ms. Julie Gronlund, School Board member, said the School Board has put an emphasis on raising teacher salaries in the last few years, and perhaps it needs to look at closing a school. Ms. Gronlund said she thinks the School Board has set priorities. Mr. Lynch said that it appears that the only reason the City and schools are not in a crisis situation regarding capital needs is because the budget surplus has been used for capital needs. Otherwise, Mr. Lynch said he feels the capital budget is too low. Mr. Lynch said he thinks there is money in the City budget for strategic investment, parking, etc. that could be used.