WINNSBORO – For the second time this year, the Fairfield County School Board voted to extend the contract of Superintendent J.R. Green during their April 8 meeting. The extension takes Green’s deal with the District to 2019 and increases the District’s buyout option from nine to 18 months.
“We felt the timing was excellent, considering the most recent accolades under his leadership and those he’s hired,” Board Chairwoman Beth Reid (District 7), said.
The overall five-year deal and 18-month buyout if Green were discharged without cause was standard throughout the state, Reid said. The move did not get unanimous support, however, with Board members Andrea Harrison (District 1) and Annie McDaniel (District 4) voting against the extension and Board member Paula Hartman (District 2) abstaining.
“I have no dislike for J.R.,” McDaniel said last week, “but (the Board) couldn’t give me a good reason to make him that offer at this time.”
Hartman said that while she had supported Green’s extension in January, she “didn’t see why we were bringing it up again.” Harrison did not return phone calls at press time.
Career Center
The Board heard from four companies during their April 8 meeting, all vying for the contract to construct the new Career and Technology Center on a sliver of land between Fairfield Central High and Fairfield Middle schools. Shiel Sexton, KBR Building Group and Edifice, Inc. all of Charlotte, as well as MB Kahn of Columbia, made detailed presentations before the Board. Regardless of who wins the contract, the construction company taking on the project faces huge challenges, including rerouting bus traffic during school hours and game traffic during football season.
The Board will vote to award the contract during their special April 22 meeting, and will vote on a guaranteed maximum price for the project during their May 20 meeting.
Budget
The Board also held first reading on their 2014-2015 budget. The $35,548,351 proposed budget is up from last year’s $34,358,564 budget, but holds the millage rate at 203.1 mills. Tax revenues are expected to be up from $26,331,062 last year to $27,480,665, while funds from the Education Finance Act are up from $4,146,227 to $4,371,451 and funds from the Education Improvement Act are up from $2,894,936 to $2,917,436.
The proposed budget will include $128,167 in increases for purchased services, as well as $158,564 in increases for supplies and materials, including an increase of $170,000 in energy costs and expected rate increases. A transfer of $126,000 to the food services fund is also included in the proposal. The proposed budget also allocates $60,000 for Fairfield Behavioral Health Services (FBHS) for prevention programs and treatment services. Since the 2008-2009 school year, FBHS has served more than 5,000 students through various prevention programs.
The Board will hold a work session on the budget April 22 at 6 p.m. at the District Offices.
