GREENLAND — The new Greenland School Board will have its work cut out when it organizes later this month.
During his final town hall report Thursday, Superintendent Charles Cudney outlined the Greenland School District’s budget situation and said the new school board will have several issues to start working on, particularly teacher salaries and improving communication with parents in the district.
The district is returning to local control after being under the auspices of the Arkansas Department of Education since July 2008 because of recurring financial problems. The school board was disbanded and an interim superintendent was retained.
Cudney assumed the superintendency in July to pave the way for the district’s return to local control.
INFOBOX
New School Board
The first meeting of the new Greenland School Board will include the legally required report to the public, financial update and election of board officers. “Everyone is welcome,” said Superintendent Charles Cudney.
When: 5 p.m., Oct. 18
Where: Greenland High School cafeteria.
Source: State Report
A new budget for the district, totaling about $8.3 million, has been approved by the state education department. The new budget includes a year-end balance of $1.6 million on June 30, 2011, nearly the same as the year end balance on June 30, 2010.
The current fiscal year runs from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011.
“Where it ends up depends on the decisions of the new school board,” Cudney said.
Pat Anderson, one of the new school board members, said the district is in a strong position, “poised to keep heading in that direction. We have a bright future.”
Anderson said he hoped the new board and Cudney will continue to hold some form of regular information meetings for patrons.
“We want to make sure we continue to do something similar to this,” Anderson said. The state education department, as part of its operation of the district, ordered monthly reports to the public, similar to town hall meetings.
A survey, administered by Cudney shortly after he was hired, indicated one of the district’s weaknesses, as noted by survey respondents, was the lack of communication with parents.
“That’s extremely important,” Anderson said. “It’s more difficult to figure out what communication is needed.”
“That’s something we need to listen to,” Cudney said in his 40-minute presentation in the high school cafeteria.
The strengths and weaknesses, as identified by patrons, will be presented to the new school board to incorporate into an action plan for moving the district forward.
Teachers in the district haven’t received a pay raise in three years, during which time, some have taken pay cuts and have had their contracts shortened to help the district save money.
Anderson agreed the salary issue for teachers needs to be addressed.
“We need to pay teachers as much as we can afford,” Anderson said. “They deserve it.”
He cautioned, however, the teachers can’t be paid more than the district can realistically afford.