THE SCHOOL BOARD OF

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLORIDA

MINUTES, AUGUST 12, 2005

The School Board of Escambia County, Florida, convened in Emergency Meeting at 10:20 a.m. (immediately following the 9:00 a.m. Regular Workshop), in Room 160, at the J.E. Hall Educational Services Center, 30 East Texar Drive, Pensacola, Florida, with the following present:

Chairman:                     Mr. Gary L. Bergosh                

Vice Chairman:             Mrs. Patty Hightower (not present)

Board Members:           Mrs. Cary Stidham

                                  Dr. Charles E. Glover, Sr.

                                  Mr. Pete Gindl, Sr. (not present)

School Board General Counsel:        Mrs. Ellen Odom

Superintendent of Schools:               Mr. Jim Paul

I.               CALL TO ORDER/ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Mr. Bergosh called the Special Meeting to order at 10:20 a.m.  On motion by Mrs. Stidham, seconded by Dr. Glover, adoption of the agenda, was approved 3 to 0, with Mrs. Hightower and Mr. Gindl absent for vote. 

II.               BUDGET PROCESS

      Mrs. Laura Shaud, Director of Budgeting, gave a brief update on the current budget situation by specifically addressing the following issues, which would affect the budget for 2005-2006:

·         Pensacola Beach Property Taxation Lawsuit*

·         Reserves for Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

·         Ending Balance of Salary Accounts and Departmental Budgets

·         Terminal Leave (Annual Leave and Sick Leave) Payments

·         Reserve for Inventory 

·         Worker’s Compensation

*(Lawsuit filed by Pensacola Beach leaseholders against the County, contesting the right of the County to assess property taxes on their leasehold.) 

Based on a review of preliminary figures, taking into account the projected loss from the Pensacola Beach taxes and other minor changes, Mrs. Shaud advised that the District would have an available beginning fund balance of approximately $4.6 million.   

Mrs. Stidham questioned whether there were any ways that the budget could be cut?  Mrs. Shaud believed that “pennies and a few dollars here and there” could be cut, but noted that over the last several years, the budget had been “slashed” to the point where it was becoming very difficult for departments to operate due to a lack of adequate funds.

Mrs. Stidham was concerned that if the District was not able to adhere to the five-year plan (objectives of the Salary Compensation Task Force) to raise teacher’s salaries, that might prohibit the District from attracting new teachers. 

Mr. Bergosh noted that it was the Board’s intent to adhere to the five-year plan (objectives of the Salary Compensation Task Force).  Therefore, he encouraged the Superintendent and his staff to continue to try to identify areas where funds could still be cut and to continue to identify areas were additional funds could be acquired. 

  III.               ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the Special Meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Attest:                                                              Approved:

________________________________                    ________________________________

Superintendent                                                  Chairman