DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCIL (DAC) MEETING NOTES - OCTOBER 13, 2009 

from Becky Leslie, DAC rep for Westwoods Elementary 

 

Superintendent Report:

.. Legislative Action: 
• State has reduced the per pupil amount by $165 which equates to approximately $1.7 
million for the district. 
• TCAPS budgeted a $5 million reduction for this year 
• TCAPS has reduced the budget by $10 million over the last 7 years 


.. Transportation: 
• They have followed up on a majority of appeals received regarding the new bus 
routes for this year 


.. Student Count Numbers: 
• 124 net reduction – was expecting 200 
• Believe the All Day Every Day Kindergarten has helped 


.. H1N1 Virus: 
• District wide plans in place in case of an outbreak 
• TCAPS hosting vaccination clinics for the GT Health Dept – no charge – parent info 
packets to go out this week – all this info is on the TCAPS website 







Board of Education Report:

.. Board wants more advice from DAC 
.. How can they get more input from parents 
.. Maybe surveys for opinions/advice to school board 





Budget Advisory Task Force (BATF) Update: The BATF is a special task force that will provide 
the superintendent and the Board of Education recommendations for balancing the districts’ 
2010/2011 budget with a goal of maintaining a 10% minimum fund balance sustainable over time. 
They have been requested to recommend reductions of $2 million, $4 million and $6 million. They 
have also been instructed that “no schools will be closed for 2010/2011 to the extent feasible and 
possible”. They have been meeting twice a month since September and will present their 
recommendations at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, December 14, 2009. 

 

.. The BATF handed out a 3 page list of 57 Suggested Reductions to the DAC. Some 
examples of possible reductions were: 
• Increase class size by 2 Reduction of $2,000,000 
• Add minutes to the day and reduce # of days Reduction of $34,000/day 
• Transport K-12 together (or some combo) Reduction of $500,000 
• Eliminated Reading Recovery Reduction of $453,200 


.. If you would like more information on the BATF and suggestions that have been discussed, 
you can go to the TCAPS website, www.tcaps.net and click on the Budget Advisory Task 
Force link found in the left side column. 





Celebrations and Challenges: One of the agenda items for the DAC meetings is the return of 
“Celebrations and Challenges”. Each school DAC rep will have a moment to comment on any 
celebrations (not fundraising) or challenges within their school. If you have any suggestions that 
you would like me to bring to our next DAC meeting on November 10th, please do not hesitate to 
contact me by email, bleslie@chartermi.net or by phone, (231) 590-2737.