FAYETTEVILLE -- The School board approved the recommendation of John L Colbert, acting superintendent, at Thursday's meeting to name Mike McClure as the director of transportation effective July 1.
McClure will replace Tommy Davenport, who's retiring in June after 42 years with the district, including the last 20 years as director of transportation.
McClure held the position of assistant director since 2016 under Davenport.
"As the old saying goes, Mr. McClure will have some very big shoes to fill in replacing Tommy Davenport," Colbert said. "We are so grateful to Mr. Davenport for his many years of exemplary service to our students, but we are very confident that Mr. McClure is the right person to be our next director."
The board unanimously approved the preliminary budget for 2018-2019 school year.
The proposed budget maintains the current millage rate of 45.65 mills and doesn't request an increase.
"Our School Board takes pride in working within our existing millage. The Fayetteville School District hasn't had to request a millage increase in the last eight years," Justin Eichmann, board president, said.
The board also unanimously approved a new math curriculum, the 2018-19 school calender and changes to several policies: equal educational opportunity; conduct to and from school and transportation eligibility; school health policy and suicide prevention.
School Board Recognition
Fayetteville’s School Board recognized several award-winning students and teachers at the beginning of Thursday’s meeting.
• Amanda Thomson won 1st place for statistics in a state-wide math contest. The board also congratulated four other students who placed in other state math contests.
• Andrew Young won 2018 FPS Teacher of the Year. Young is an 8th-grade English teacher at Woodland Middle School.
• Bethany Strasser, who teachers engineering at Ramay Junior High, won the Arkansas Teacher Excellence Award.
Source: Staff report
2018-19 Fayetteville School District Budget
The proposed preliminary operating fund budget for the 2018-2019 school year is $108,411,397. The district receives revenue from the following sources:
· State Funding: $33,622,646
· Local Funding: $74,788,751
The expenditures by category are as follows:
· Certified Salaries: $52,154,000
· Classified Salaries: $16,055,175
· Benefits: $16,791,972
· Curriculum: $3,876,458
· Technology: $1,000,000
· Building & Grounds: $2,200,000
· Utilities: $2,500,000
· Transportation: $1,200,000
· Administration: $680,000
· Debt/Building Fund less subsidy: $12,211,000
The board is scheduled to vote on a new music curriculum and a 2018-2019 school breakfast and lunch price increase of 10 cents as well as several revised polices.
The proposed revisions are available to view and comment online at the district's website at district.fayar.net under the leadership then board of education tab. Look for "Proposed New & Revised Board Policies (NEW!)."
The budget includes proposed increases for staff members that will be voted on by the board at the June 28 meeting.
Members had stated at a budget session May 9 they would move ahead with the vote for 1.5 percent raise for teachers, however, the board must first propose the salary change and then the Certified Personnel Policies Committee must have at least 10 days to review it. The vote is scheduled for the June 28 meeting.
"Pending final board approval, we are pleased to let our employees know that classified staff members will receive a step increase of 2.5 percent, and certified staff members will receive an average increase of 2.5 percent, consisting of a step increase with a 1.5 percent increase to the base rate," Colbert said.
"Teacher raises, I think, are a great idea," board member Bob Moranto said. "Realistically, with what we have, this is a good number, but I would always like to see more."
Eichmann said they must also consider other needs require money such as school safety, new facilities and technology.
Board member Susan Heil said, "The dollars go towards a pay increase comes from recurring dollars, which are there due to growth and the millage the community voted on," and the chances of getting another millage increase after the last one for the high school. "But it's all about fiscal management."
Heil served at her last meeting Thursday before retiring from the School Board.
"The number one reason I'll miss the School Board is because where also can you spend time with so many others that truly love the students and staff of Fayetteville schools as much as I do?" Heil said in a farewell speech at the end of Thursday's meeting.
Keaton Smith, 32, will be taking Heil's position as an at-large member. He's a vice president with Iberia Bank and lives in south Fayetteville.
NW News on 05/25/2018
