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While the budget vote is discernibly clear, the vote on Board of Education trustees remains unclear. With 100 absentee ballots still to count, the top three vote-getters are within 180 votes of each other.
Darcy Miller is leading the way, with 1,334 votes, trailed by Omar McDowell’s 1,292 and Charmaine Fearon’s 1,154 votes. The top three vote-getters will serve on the board for three-year terms.
The budget accounts for the district’s planned transition to a “K-8” model and includes a “text-to-tablets roll-out” that marks the beginning of a new technology initiative. There will be continued Common Core implementation in English and math and early literacy programs will remain unchanged.
With the passage of the budget, the district will restore its gifted and talented program, as well as secondary literacy programs for students in need of advanced help to meet state standards. Parent Portal, a web-based tool for parents to view student grades and attendance is also going to be put into effect.
Due to decreased enrollment, as well as escalating mandates and employee benefit costs, the district will be forced to eliminate 15 teaching positions to avoid cutting any core programs, though that number may be reduced when the district offers retirement incentives to veteran teachers.
Total Votes
- Darcy Miller: 1,334
- Omar McDowell: 1,292
- Charmaine Fearon: 1,154
- Samuel Rivers: 891
- Helena Edwards: 838
- Kathie Brewington: 651
- Marc Stuckey: 583
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