First Reading Of Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Takes Place At Last Night’s School Board Meeting

(Seneca, SC)————–The School District of Oconee County Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting last night in the School Board Conference Room. 

The biggest news from last night’s meeting concerned the first reading of the FY 2020 General Fund Budget. According to Steve Hanvey from the School District, the District is still using the State House budget blueprint as the School District comes up with their own budget, however, the District is still looking at a “pretty good deficit.” The Board voted unanimously last night that when they go back before Oconee County Council, they will ask County Council for a 1-mill tax increase to reduce how much the School District will have to dip into its fund balance in order to balance their budget. 

Hanvey says that without the potential 1-mill tax increase, the School District will be dealing with around a $2.9 million dollars shortfall. With the 1-mill increase, then the budget shortfall will be around $2.5 million dollars with the District dipping into its reserves. 

Also according to Hanvey, Lisa Simmons presented the District Strategic Planto the Board for approval that looks ahead towards the next five years. The plan is due to the State Department of Education by the end of the month. Simmons also shared the finalized copy of the AdvancEd Report, which involves the accreditation of the School District. Even though there is still work to do, according to Hanvey, he says the District “did an outstanding job” and the District scored “very high.” 

Hanvey said the District also tabled the 2020-21 school calendar. Hanvey said that at the last meeting, the School District eliminated the modified calendar from consideration and the hope is the School District can get some relief from the state in regards to beginning the school year before the third Monday in August in order to get the first semester completed before Christmas. 

 The Board also approved first reading of the Home Schooling policy which would allow home school students, dependent on space availability and by paying a small fee, to participate in classes at the middle school and high school level. 

 Finally, upon second reading and approval, the District approved a slight change in their Code of Conduct policy regarding vaping in regards to treating it on the same level as tobacco possession on campus. Hanvey says students that are caught violating this policy will be dealt with on the school level as well as receiving a blue ticket from a law enforcement officer and then having to appear before a Magistrate Judge and looking at the possibility of paying a fine. The District also approved a second reading on clarifying and giving a full definition on bullying in regards to adding that the Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying policy.