Clarendon 1 approves layoff, discusses behavior questionnaire

The Clarendon 1 board got its first look at a revised health behavior questionnaire. Dr. Wilder and the superintendents of Clarendon School Districts 1 and 2 have collaborated on, after uproar from parents in Districts 1 and 2 about the sexually explicit nature of some of the questions asked of students.

Revised health behavior questionnaire (PDF)

By MARY DOLAN
Item Staff Writer

As a direct response to finding itself with a budget that's been slashed by the state this year, Clarendon School District 1's Board of Trustees voted to cut a position at Scott's Branch High School at its meeting Monday night.

The board discussed a possible reduction in staff in executive session prior to the open meeting and voted in open session to move ahead with the cut. Superintendent Dr. Rose Wilder said she would not reveal what individual will be let go but said that it would be after this semester comes to a close.

According to Wilder, students participating in the district's alternative program have left classes a little emptier, making the decision to reduce the staff by one person make sense. The elimination of the position will save the district about $35,000 to $40,000 a year, Wilder said.

Also at Tuesday's meeting, the board approved a resolution allowing Wilder to issue a Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) for up to $1 million. The resolution was drawn up by financial consultant Scott Allan. Allan said he didn't foresee the use of the note being necessary but said he wanted the board to approve the resolution, should they find themselves needing it.

Allan said despite a recent dual round of state budget cuts, the district's budget is faring well enough. But should revenues not come in quickly enough to keep pace with expenditures, issuing the note might become necessary at some point during the year, he said.

Allan said his primary concern is when the district will see revenues from property tax bill Act 388 which calls for the generation of district funding from state sales tax.

"We really don't know what that's going to do, when that's going to come," he said.

TANs are issued with expected tax revenue as collateral. Allan said he and Wilder would notify the board if issuing one becomes a necessary move. He said April 15, 2009, would be the deadline for issuing it.

Additionally at the meeting, the board got its first look at a revised health behavior questionnaire that Wilder and the superintendents of Clarendon School Districts 1 and 2 have collaborated on, after uproar from parents in Districts 1 and 2 about the sexually explicit nature of some of the questions asked of students.

Wilder asked the board to review the survey so that it could vote on whether to approve the revised edition at its next meeting.


Contact Staff Writer Mary Dolan at mdolan@theitem.com or (803) 774-1294.