School Board passes FY24 budget, cafeteria fund request, renewed custodial contract

The Warren County School Board on Wednesday, June 21, voted 4-0 to approve each of three action agenda items: the fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget for Warren County Public Schools (WCPS), a request for an additional appropriation to the cafeteria fund, and a renewed custodial contract with Sodexo Operations, LLC. 

School Board members present to vote were Board Chair Kristen Pence and board members Antoinette Funk, Andrea Lo, and Melanie Salins. Board Vice Chair Ralph Rinaldi was absent.

WCPS Superintendent Christopher Ballenger (above left) details the school division’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 final budget to School Board member Andrea Lo (above right) and her board colleagues.

WCPS Superintendent Christopher Ballenger presented the final FY2024 School Board budget totaling $89,583,540, as well as the FY2024 salary scales, for approval. 

The Warren County Board of Supervisors (BOS), at its July 13 special meeting, approved the School Board’s $89,583,540 budget. The Operating Budget of $72,524,408 will be funded with $28,650,000 from the County’s general revenues and the remaining $43,874,408 from state, federal, and miscellaneous revenues. Another $3,919,125 was appropriated to the School Food Services Fund to be paid by state, federal, and miscellaneous revenues, while $13,140,007 was appropriated to facilities, which is also funded by state, federal, and miscellaneous revenues.

In highlighting key aspects of the new budget, Ballenger pointed to the restructuring of the WCPS Special Services department and related changes in specific positions. The department will be split into two programs for special education and pupil services.

The approved budget of $89,583,540 projects the revenue to be $72,524,408, with salaries and benefits amounting to $61,536,183. The non-labor costs are anticipated to be just under $11 million, ensuring a balanced budget, according to Ballenger.

In comparison, the FY 2024 budget is almost a $4 million increase over the FY2023 approved budget, which totaled $85,656,775. 

What’s driving the FY2024 budget, Ballenger explained, is a 5 percent, plus a step for all teachers and instructional assistants; a 5 percent inclusive for all other employees except grades 12, 13, and 18; and a step raise for grades 12, 13, and 18. Transportation fuel costs also are a contributing factor, as are new positions and extra costs associated with operations and maintenance.

Regarding capital improvements, the superintendent said that significant actions included initiating the A&E cost associated with the E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School project to convert the auditorium to a multipurpose room, as well as revisions in the classification of certain positions and the introduction of monthly attendance incentives. 

The proposed FY2024 budget is available here: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/warren/Board.nsf/files/CSZTGC6EF659/$file/FY2024%20Proposed%20Budget%206-21-23%20Final.pdf

WCPS Assistant Superintendent of Administration George “Buck” Smith (above) detailed two other action agenda items during the School Board’s work session on June 21.

One item called for the School Board’s approval of a request for an additional appropriation to Budget Category 65000 — School Food Services.

“Due to an increase in the number of meals served and a corresponding increase in meal reimbursements, the Food Service program is on track to exceed its originally approved appropriation of $3,392,190 by a projected $732,250,” Smith told the board members. “In order to receive and spend this additional amount, an increase in the Category 65000 — School Food Services budget must be approved by the Board of Supervisors.

“This item is actually a good thing,” Smith explained, “in the sense that… it deals with our ability to serve more meals than we previously had anticipated.”

Smith added that there’s no loss of money here and that the item’s approval is “more of a formality.”

“We’re going to be reimbursed for all those meals that we have that actually exceed the 732,000,” he said. “You don’t really know at the beginning of the year how many meals you’re going to serve, and when we go into where all students are eating free, then all students eat free. So with this, it’s really a formality for the board to release the money that we already have.” 

The item received unanimous board approval.

The other item Smith presented for action called for approval to renew the school division’s custodial service management contract with Sodexo.

The Warren County School Board, on June 3, 2020, entered into an agreement with Sodexo to manage its custodial operations. The agreement contains a clause that allows the contract to be renewed annually for four additional one-year periods upon the mutual consent of both parties said Smith, who recommended its renewal.

The board voted to approve the renewed custodial service management contract with Sodexo for an additional one-year period beginning July 1 through June 30, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $2,263,583.

Watch the exclusive Royal Examiner video in its entirety at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2EUk6MV3dg.