Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers
The budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 will be presented to the Oak Ridge Board of Education at 5:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, May 10).
The school board will have a work session to discuss the Fiscal Year 2017 budget at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12, and a work session to review the budget line by line at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 16.
Then, the BOE will consider the budget in the first of two readings at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. That meeting will include a public hearing.
The second and final reading is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 23. The regular monthly school board meeting for May will follow at 6 p.m. that day. The regular monthly meeting has been rescheduled to that day from Tuesday, May 31.
You can view the agendas for the above budget meetings by clicking on this link.
The Oak Ridge Board of Education meets at 304 New York Avenue.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Sam Hopwood says
Previous reports suggest that Dr. Borchers has found enough fat in the school budget to recommend 2% raises for all employees, without reducing the level of programs offered, or requesting an increase in support from the city. If this is correct, it will be a large feather in his cap. He has performed well, in my view, including resolving difficult personnel issues without hesitation. Bravo Dr. Borchers!
Joseph Lee says
Thank you Sam.
Mike Mahathy says
Joe, it is refreshing to have a Council and BOE that at the very least discuss issues and budget matters together. It sure is better than that mental image I have in my mind of a particular former council person gritting her teeth as she tried to say our schools, and hence our students, were inferior. I hope we do not ever return to those days. Disagreement is ok, debating of issues is often needful but my hope is we can retain civility.
Angi Agle says
That “previous report” in the Knoxville News Sentinel, was incorrect. Dr. Borchers never said — to the Board or anyone else — what we could fund a raise without additional support from the City.
Sam Hopwood says
Incorrect is right! Oh well, it DID sound good. Cancel that large feather in his cap for Dr. Borchers. On the other hand, one can always hope…… 🙂
Mike Mahathy says
Dr. Borchers has done an excellent job of balancing state and federal mandates, e.g. a requirement to hire an interpreter for one or very few students and in providing great educational opportunities to all students. The new Oak Ridge 2020 system will directly measure success of these efforts. The schools and the city are pursuing a common solution to capital needs (for example the roofing needs are city and county schools exceeds $6,000,000). Working together will provide timely but also more affordable fixes. The BOE is contributing again from the schools’ fund balance. It seems to me that we have people across the city trying to work together. This should give us hope. By the way, let’s not forget about the new automotive tech program which will be starting at the high school in the fall.
Sam Hopwood says
I am right on board with a 3% raise for the school system employees, just as soon as the BOE endorses a 3% raise for our city employees. When the power goes out we don’t call the BOE. Priorities first and foremost…… Don’t you think?
Mike Mahathy says
I can’t speak for the BOE but I know Dr. Borchers and Mark Watson have both stated they would target raises for both sets of employees at 3%. Dr. Borchers said the request would be for all city workers in a meeting I was at. Granted though, neither body can tell the other how to prioritize or spend their funds.