County school board OKs budget based on 4 percent tax revenue increase
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Friday, May 18, 2018 — The Nelson County Board of Education recently approved the district’s tentative 2018-19 budget that assumes the district will receive a four percent property tax revenue increase over last fiscal year.
Chief Operating Officer Tim Hockensmith reviews the district’s tentative budget at a recent school board working session.
The board reviewed the budget with Tim Hockensmith, the district’s chief operating officer, at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night at the district’s Central Office on Wildcat Lane.
Hockensmith said the budget includes $300,000 to fund the planned 1-to-1 program that will distribute new Chromebook laptops to every third-grader, sixth-grader and ninth-grader starting next year. The district has committed to funding the purchases going forward so that after four years, every student in the district will have a Chromebook.
The budget’s revenue projections are based on the assumption the board will approve a 4 percent tax revenue increase when it sets the tax rate this fall. The 4 percent revenue increase will offset the loss of state SEEK funding, Hockensmith explained.
Due to the need for fewer teachers this coming school year, the district’s payroll will be less than the current year, he said.
The 2018-19 budget also includes funding to hire a School Resource Officer.
The tentative budget is the first version of the Fiscal Year 2018-19 district budget.
HEALTH CLINIC SERVICES. After some discussion, the board approved entering into a contract with Cumberland Family Medical Center (CFMC) to provide school-based healthcare services at the district’s schools beginning this fall.
Superintendent Wes Bradley presents Tom Brown with a gift in honor of his service to the district as its interim superintendent.
The program will not replace the district’s school nurses, but will allow the district to offer students and staff some medical services on-site. The services include acute care visits, well child visits, physicals, immunizations and other services.
CFMC will also be able to bill Medicaid on behalf of the district for reimbursement for some of the services the school’s nurses provide. The services are offered only with the permission of a child’s parent or guardian.
The board previously voted to partner with the Lincoln Trail Health Department for Medicaid billing, but Lincoln Trail recently decided to withdraw from offering school services.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS. The board also approved the job descriptions for four new Central Office level positions requested by the district’s new superintendent, Wes Bradley,
Three of the positions — the director of workforce development, the director of community health and engagement, and the director of student leadership and engagement — will make sure the district’s resources are unified and being used most effectively in trying to prepare the district’s students for life beyond high school.
The fourth position, the community and school media coordinator, will work to unify the district’s marketing and promotion in an effort to better communicate the district’s successes to the community.
In other business, the board:
— approved vendors for workers comp, facility and student injury insurance services;
— approved a federal and state program procedures manual. Hockensmith said the manual is a single document that describes the district’s current practices. The manual was created at the request of the district’s auditor.
— approved a contract with KORT Physical Therapy for athletic trainer services. The contract provides to certified athletic trainers at no cost to the district.
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