The Fannin County Board of Education discussed their Fiscal Year 2021 timeline and the effect the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the budget during a meeting Thursday, May 14.
The system has received guidance from the state to expect a 14% cut for all state agencies in the state’s budget.
“It’s kind of difficult going into this right now because by this point the legislature is normally finished, and they’re going to come back into session in June,” Superintendent Dr. Michael Gwatney said. “We get a great deal of insight into how we can budget from the legislature, and so we’re waiting for that information. One thing that we do know from the governor’s office is that there is going to be an across the board 14%. How that translates is yet to be seen, but that’s a 14% cut for all state agencies including schools, so that’s significant.”
Gwatney anticipates that the system’s past conservative spending and current fund reserve will help the system “weather the storm.”
“As I read this information and review the financial report that we just approved earlier, I’m thankful for three things,” Gwatney said. “First, for being conservative during the past few years to have built a solid fund balance, a reserve that will allow us to weather this financial storm better than many. The second thing I am thankful for in Fannin County schools is we are a debt-free school district and that is significant. That’s significant in good times, but especially with like what could happen now. The fact that we’re debt-free is great.
“And finally, a conservative board of education and district leadership that consistently are careful and prudent with district funds.”
Board member Lewis DeWeese asked if the budget cut would affect funding for teachers, and Finance Director Susan Wynn explained that the budget cut will affect all aspects of the overall operating budget because the revenue will be decreased by 14%.
“But we have a very sound reserve, but its not expected to affect any personnel,” Wynn said. “We will have less revenue than we had last year by 14% of our state income. … They’re going to decrease the amounttheir funding us, but we’re still going to pay our teachers the same thing that we normally pay our teachers, but they’re not going to give us as much money. We’re going to have to come up with that ourselves.”
Gwatney said, “It is my intention to protect all people involved with the Fannin County School System. That will include, of course, the students, with that reserve, our personnel, with that reserve, and also the community, the taxpayers, with that reserve.”
Wynn anticipates adopting a budget later this year between August 20-25, and the board will hold their first public input meeting on the budget Thursday, July 9 at 5:30 p.m.
The school system did receive 0.033% more in SPLOST funds for March than last year, with an increase from $445,276.15 to $445,424.87.
At 75% of the fiscal year complete, the school system currently shows a revenues at $35,950, 756.26 for March 31.
The board also voted to purchase six welding stations for the Fannin County High School’s CTAE program from Clean Air America, Inc. at a cost of $42,600 using SPLOST funds.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Operations Darren Danner, the stations include six prefabricated booths including filtering, electrical and curtains. The cost includes a turn-key installation for the stations, and once the stations are installed, school system maintenance will install the electrical and air compressor connections.
Danner also requested to award Mundy’s Heating and Air, Inc.’s low bid to install an HVAC system and gas pipe replacement in the FCHS Old Gym for $162,031. The board awarded the bid unanimously using SPLOST funds.
Director of School Nutrition Candice Sisson recommended that the school system increase the price of paid students meals by $0.10 for the 2020-2021 school year. This increase was determined using the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) tool. The board approved and lunch prices will now be $2.35 at the elementary schools and $2.60 at the middle school and high school. Free and reduced lunch prices will not change and the system will still offer free breakfast to all students.
At the request of Director of Applied & Integrated Instruction Lucas Roof’s request, the school system is applying for the CTAE Perkins V Program Improvement Grant to provide funds that will allow the system’s CTAE program to continue to “flourish and improve.”