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Home My WebLink About05-07-2025 Fairhope Public Schools Commission Meeting MinutesFairhope Public Schools Commission May 7, 2025 J. Larry Newton Elementary Members present: Vickie Bailey, Tricia Gunnells, Paul Hannon, David Johnson, Joe Kelley, Carrie Mackey, Danielle Mashburn-Myrick, Miranda Schrubbe, Kathy Sternenberg Members absent: None Principals and school staff present: Christina Stacey - Fairhope East Elementary; Jenny Breazeale, Caroline Hollowell and Sydney Smith - Fairhope West Elementary; Tonya Harrelson and Erica Lee – J. Larry Newton Elementary; Shawn O’Conner – Fairhope Middle; Jon Cardwell – Fairhope High Baldwin County Public Schools: John Wilson – Chief School Financial Officer Guest: Gary Gover Joe Kelley called the meeting to order and the April 2nd meeting minutes were approved. Jenny Breazeale requested an additional $6,000 for Fairhope West Elementary’s ’25-’26 budget for professional development trainers, to be funded with unspent 3-mill money carried over from previous budget. Danielle Mashburn-Myrick moved to approve the additional budget item and Vickie Bailey seconded the motion; motion passed. Jon Cardwell presented modifications to Fairhope High’s ’25-’26 budget, reducing academic student field trip line item from $50K to $30K, professional development from $15K to $10K and social worker/nurses line item from $10K to $5K, and adding $5K for guitar (full proposal is attached.) Motion to approve request as presented was made by David Johnson and seconded by PJ Hannon; motion passed. Fairhope High English Language Arts/ACT Prep Teacher $78,584 English Language Arts/ACT Prep Teacher $82,032 Business Teacher $97,398 Business Teacher $90,000 Agriscience Teacher $90,000 Academic Student Field Trip Line Item $50,000 $30,000 Band Program Line Item $70,000 Professional Development Registration Fees $15,000 $10,000 Dance Line Item $5,000 Choir/Piano Line Item $10,000 Audiovisual Upgrades $10,000 IB, AP, PSAT, 10th Grade ACT Testing Fees $55,000 Social Worker/Nurses Line Item $10,000 $5,000 Substitute Teachers for RTI, Field Trips, Professional Development $10,000 Line Item for Guitar $5,000 Total $648,014 John Wilson presented a summary of the 3-mill revenue and K-1 proceeds to date. • Since the 3-mill tax was implemented in 2020, the annual revenue has grown from $2,209,817 in the ’20-’21 school year to $3,750,669 in the ’24-’25 school year – 70% growth over 5 years! • The reserve balance is approximately $2.1M and is expected to earn $73K in interest this FY. • Recent valuations show approximately $260K (7%) increase in estimated revenue for next year; this is in line with a cap of 7% increase per year that was legislated last year. • All payments for the K-1 property have been received as of last summer. Of the $1.5M in proceeds, an available balance of $427,120 remains. • The school board is contracting with ClearGov to improve the budgeting and financial reporting processes for all 3-mill districts, providing easy to read reports; it is expected to be in use sometime next school year. • The investment of this funding is paying off as Fairhope schools are earning high marks on state “report cards.” The commission will not likely need to meet in June or July, but Joe Kelley will notify everyone once confirmed. The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m. Respeclully submimed by Miranda Schrubbe Amendance YTD 2025 3/5 4/2 5/7 Vickie P A(E) P Tricia A(E) P P P.J. A(E) A(E) P David P P P Joe P P P Carrie P A(E) P Danielle P P P Miranda P P P Kathy P P P Funding Requests from Fairhope High School Fairhope Public School Commission /3 Mill Referendum School Year: _____25-26__________ School Summary: Educational requests for Fairhope High School. Below are requests to the Commission for Fairhope Schools for the approximate $750,000 designated for improving academics. Title of Position/Item Cost Job Description Benefit to students/academic enhancement English-Language Arts /ACT PrepTeacher 78,584 Renewal ACT Prep and English Classes English-Language Arts/ACT 82,032 Renewal English-Language Arts Business Teacher 97,398 Renewal Business Ed Teacher Business Teacher 90,000 New Unit This unit is needed to support the Alabama Legislatures enacting the Option B Diploma. It also increases the mandatory CCRS standard needed to graduate. Agriscience Teacher 90,000 New Unit This second agriscience unit is needed to support the Alabama Legislatures enacting the Option B Diploma. It also increases the mandatory CCRS standard needed to graduate. Academic Student Field Trip Line Item 30,000 Academic Field Trip This line item will serve to alleviate challenges from cost of taking academic field trips like Empowering Minds, Scholars Bowl, Etc. IB, AP, PSAT,10th Grade ACT Testing Fees 55,000 Student Testing Fees Increase availability for students to participate in college testing programs Line Item for Band Program 70,000 Band Upgrades and Enhancements This line item will be used in procuring new instruments and other expenses. Professional Development Registration Fees 10,000 Teacher PD This line item will be used to fund registration fees regarding IB, AP, PLC and other PD that will benefit classrooms. Line Item for Dance 5,000 Dance Enhancements Supplementing items needed to enhance the dance collective Line item for Choir/Piano 10,000 Choir Enhancements Supplement items needed for choral program and Piano Lab Audiovisual Upgrades 10,000 AV Enhancments Enhance outdated technology (sound systems, presentation materials) Line Item for Social Worker and Nurses 5,000 Student Welfare This line item will help provide academic assistance to our at-risk and Underprivileged Students Substitute Teachers for RTI, Field Trips, Professional Development 10,000 Student Achievement This line item will be used to help provide substitute teachers for RTI meetings, Academic Field Trips, and teachers attending Professional Development Line Item for Guitar 5000 Guitar Class enhancments Supplement items needed for Guitar Class Total: $648,014 Attachment/additional data for: Fairhope 3 Mill Committee Preparing for 25-26 School Year John Wilson CSFO Baldwin Co Schools Quick History of Collections •70% increase in collections since inception!! •Far exceeded all of our wildest expectations. Revenue versus Allocated Budget •This conservative budgeting has resulted in an estimated reserve balance of $2.1 million as of the end of the school year. •Best practice to create a strong reserve balance when 90% of expenditures are tied back to personnel costs. •The reserve balance is expected to earn around $73k in interest revenue this fiscal year. Wrapping up the 24-25 School Year. •Estimated revenue: $3,750,669 •Revenue collected as of 4/30: $3,669,972 • The majority of property tax revenue has been received, and we are still collecting probate revenue monthly. •Expectations that will be at or very close to our estimates. •Budgeted Expenses $3,438,706. •Expenses Year to Date: $2,869,333 •Salaries and Benefits will continue to be paid throughout the remainder of the 9 month employee contract period (September 24- August 25) •Budget is still on track to match actual expenses. •Some expenses will roll into the 25-26 financial reporting period since we track expenses on a school year (July 1st start) versus the typical fiscal year (October 1st start). Year-over-Year Comparison (24-25 vs 25-26) Estimated Ad Valorem Abstract (Oct 24 - Sept 25)3,690,486.26 Class I 116,676.42 Class I 123,235.98 Estimated Ad Valorem Abstract (Oct 25 - Sept 26)3,937,363.02 Reassessment Contingencies (5%)184,524.31 Class II 2,061,436.74 Class II 2,183,897.22 Reassessment Contingencies (5%)196,868.15 Estimated Ad Valorem Abstract (2024-2025)3,505,961.95 Class III 2,273,573.70 Class III 2,449,568.52 Estimated Ad Valorem Abstract (2025-2026)3,740,494.87 4,453,989.36 4,756,701.72 Estimated Ad Valorem (2024-2025)3,505,961.95 Exempt 609,732.84 Exempt 655,281.90 Estimated Ad Valorem (2025-2026)3,740,494.87 Estimated Probate (Jan 24 - Dec 24 244,707.23 Admin 153,770.26 Admin 164,056.80 Estimated Probate (Jan 25 - Dec 25 277,106.08 3,750,669.18 3,690,486.26 3,937,363.02 4,017,600.95 Fairhope 3 Mill 2024-2025 2024-2025 Fairhope 3 Mill 2025-20262025-2026 Class I: Utilities Class II: Commercial/Business Property Class III: Persona/Residential Property The latest abstract included the most recent valuations, which show an approximate $260k increase (7%). Note: Legislation passed last year limits valuation increases to only 7% per year (exclusions for new property). An allocation of between $750k to $800k is still appropriate per school. City Contributions from K-1 Building Transfer Last summer was the last $300k contribution to meet the $1.5 million agreement. We have reconciled our balance as of April, and $1,072,879 has been spent. That leaves an available balance of $427,120 remaining. The commission has the discretion to award or distribute as they see fit. Futures Improvements to 3 mill Financial Process •The Board has approved a $30k contract with a company named ClearGov to improve the budgeting and financial reporting process for all 3 mill districts. •Working through implementation now, with a goal to start utilizing sometime next school year Just wanted to wrap up by saying, Wow, the investment is paying off, what an impressive ROI with some of the best schools in the county and state Fairhope Schools Report Card Fairhope East A (97)- the highest in the county. Fairhope West A (96) – 2nd highest in the county J Larry Newton A (92) Fairhope Middle School A (95) – Highest Middle School in the County Fairhope High- A (90)- Over the last 5 year Highest Average High School. THANK YOU!!!!! Thank you for volunteering your time and energy to serve on the Fairhope 3 mill committee. Questions that I can help with