Email: Vote for funds is ’110 percent clear’

PALMYRA — Before the compromise to give the county school system $300,000, an email detailed the agreement including possible reductions for next year.

The email from Shaun Kenney, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, was sent to Gena Keller, superintendent of schools, to double check the understandings of the compromise.

The email was obtained by request by Fluco Blog and verified by both parties.

The exchange was between Keller and Kenney but included, on at least the final reply, Steve Nichols (county administrator), Camilla Washington (Columbia School Board member and School Board chairwoman), Mozell Booker (Fork Union District supervisor), Joe Chesser (Rivanna District supervisor) Carol Tracy Carr (Rivanna District School Board member), Bob Ullenbruch (Palmyra supervisor and Board of Supervisors vice chairman) and Don Weaver (Cunningham District supervisor).

The email was sent from Kenney to Keller at 9:56 a.m. on Nov. 20, the day of the Board of Supervisors’ vote.

(only changes by Fluco Blog were for formatting. No changes to words or punctuation)

Gena –

Again — and I have to be 110% clear on this — the understanding is that by voting for the $308K today, the baseline budget will be FY 13 *less* the additional appropriation of $650K and *less* an additional $308K from the FY 13 approved budget.

That baseline budget for FY 14 of approx. $12.2 million is our starting point for conversation, and on 05 December the BOS expects to see how the school board intends to meet that $958K reduction through solutions previously discussed — closing Columbia and Cunningham, moving to Local Choice, merging departments such as finance and IT, etc. (i.e. no furloughs, no closing sports, true reductions) — and *then* begin a conversation as to what we want to add in (i.e. opening the high school full mast, replacing the HVAC system, etc.)

If this understanding is incorrect, now is the time to correct it. I get extremely nervous when I see different understandings on paper than the ones discussed in good faith.

Parts of the email were read by Ullenbruch during discussion of the appropriation vote on Nov. 20 to further clarify the compromise.

Keller responded to Kenney just over an hour later (10:59 a.m.):

(only changes by Fluco Blog were for formatting. No changes to words or punctuation)

Shaun
Just talked to Camilla – she’s going to call you . We are on the same page as we discussed! Heading to schools – call me if you need to, but Camilla will connect with you in the meantime.
Gena
Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone – please excuse any typos!

Nine minutes later Kenney responded (11:08 a.m.):

(only changes by Fluco Blog were for formatting. No changes to words or punctuation)

OK! I keep figuring as such… and I know we’re trying to say the same thing in different languages here, but I’m good.

Much appreciated.

The final correspondence in the chain between the two came from Keller at 11:13 a.m.:

(only changes by Fluco Blog were for formatting. No changes to words or punctuation)

(-: love the ” different languages” analogy! Take care!

Sent from my iPhone – please excuse any typos!

The email exchange, while detailing the compromise, shows light to what will be reviewed early in the fiscal year 2014 budget calendar. Anticipation is issues such as closing schools, combining various departments and same insurance plans will get more than just a once through discussion.

The $650,000 from the May 16 meeting will not be deducted from the fiscal year 2013 appropriation of $12,521,740 figure but it was used for year-to-year expenses related to using the high school. The school district also had expenses of returning trailers previously used. The district has had higher than anticipated operating costs for the new high school building.

Only the Nov. 20 appropriation of $300,000 will be deducted for fiscal year 2014 starting point, the system will still need to find a way to make up most if not all of the $650,000.

Another interesting note form the email is the compromised seemed to be set to appropriating $308,000 but the motion from Booker was for only $300,000. There could have been other discussions outside of the email to come to the $300,000 figure.

The School Board and the Board of Supervisors will have a joint work session scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Fluvanna Circuit Courtroom.