BR board asks for NEIU budget clarification

BY STACI WILSON

Blue Ridge School Board put its approval of the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit proposed budget on hold until members get more information.

Board NEIU rep Joel Whitehead said the intermediate unit had cut salaries, benefits and cost for professional services in its administrative budget for 2011-12 but the Blue Ridge contribution would remain the same.

Blue Ridge contributed just over $17,000 to the NEIU in 2010-11.

Board president Alan Hall said, “My concern is (the NEIU) is reducing expenditures by $286,000 but there is no give back to the local school districts.”

Whitehead said services provided by the intermediate unit to the districts have not been reduced and money is also needed for the maintenance of the NEIU building.

Board member Chris Whitney also pointed out a nearly $40,000 discrepancy in the proposed budget regarding local source funding.

School district funding portions were listed in the NEIU budget booklet supplied to board members with no increases for any member district from the current school year to the 2011-12 term. However the funding for next year totaled nearly $40,000 more than the current year.

Hall said, “The numbers are not adding up.”

The board voted to table the budget approval until members receive clarification on their budget questions. Whitehead cast the only dissenting vote in the matter.

Board member Shane Rumage questioned the approval of a long-term substitute position in the middle school math department.

Rumage said he thought policy was for those types of hirings to come before the personnel committee.

Superintendent Robert McTiernan said he had wanted to move forward with the hiring in this case due to complaints from parents.

Parents had complained of inconsistencies in classroom work due to the number of different substitute teachers filling the position.

Chad Upright, of Montrose, who has been teaching the class since Feb. 28 will remain in place until the board acts on the long-term sub vote.

The board also approved Bridget Nowik to act as a day-to-day substitute for the remainder of the year.

Whitehead asked why the board was hiring at this time.

McTiernan said, “It is in the district’s interest to build the largest stable of substitutes possible in case of a work stoppage.”

According to McTiernan, in the event of a work stoppage the district would not be allowed to use any subs that have not already been used by the district.