BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE AUTAUGA NEWS
Editor’s Note: If you ever want to contact your Elmore County School Board member, here is the link – https://www.elmoreco.com/boardmembers
At the Elmore County School Board Tuesday night it was a narrow vote of 4-3, with the majority agreeing to a contract renewal with Chief School Financial Officer Jason Mann.
Voting for the contract were board members Joey Holley, District 7 Eclectic; Michael Morgan, Vice Chairman and District 4 Holtville/Wetumpka; Chairman David Jones, District 3 Holtville/Millbrook; and Brian Ward, District 6, Eclectic, Redland and Wetumpka.
Voting against were board members Bill Myers, District 1, Millbrook; Leisa Finley, District 5, Wetumpka/Redland; and Wendell Saxon, District 2, Millbrook/Wetumpka.
In comments to the board before the vote, the newest board member Bill Myers made a statement.
“As the newest member of this board I haven’t had much to add to these meetings yet. I spent my first three months observing and listening to fellow board members, staff and citizens I serve to learn as much as possible,” Myers said. “Since this motion has been brought I felt that it was important for me to speak on this issue.”
Myers continued, “I did not complete an evaluation of Mr. Mann. I felt it would be unfair having only served about 60 days at that point to do an evaluation of him. At this time, though, I would like to list some things I have learned about Mr. Mann during my short time as a board member.
Myers said that Mann has restructured debt resulting in significant savings to the school district. He secured bonds for the middle school, applied for and been awarded and managed millions of dollars in grant funding for our classrooms. He has optimized the utilization of extra funds for the betterment of our campuses. Most recently at the last board meeting, he presented a bid to purchase school supplies for all students in Elmore County providing significant savings for every family in the system.
“So, thank you Mr. Mann for your efforts as CSFO. Your efforts are greatly appreciated, Myers said. “I have studied the salary structure of CFSOs across the state and I believe this contract to be in line with those of similar in budget size and numbers of students. For the aforementioned reasons I believe a salary increase would be justified for Mr. Mann. But not for the proposed amount.”
In August of last year, Mann’s salary was raised from $118,000 to $138,500. After a vote recently, his salary was raised to $145,000, plus a two percent education salary raise for all employees approved by the legislator in the spring. That brings his total salary to $147,900.
“I did not vote for the proposed salary at our last meeting, and after hearing from our community I cannot support such an increase for senior level staff,” Myers said. “Doing so has the potential to make our frontline workers feel marginalized, left out and overlooked. As board members we are tasked with the oversight of the Elmore County system and making sound decisions regarding success as well as sustainability. I believe as school board members we should look to be good stewards of taxpayer resources and I know all of you guys do as well. With that in mind, with what percentage that our frontline workers just received I will be casting a no vote to this contract. But it has no bearing on Mr. Mann’s performance.”
Board member Wendell Saxon also addressed the board.
“The contract as it is presented, I do not concur with the contract. As was mentioned at a previous meeting, I was considering the base salary for Mr. Mann, who has done an excellent job. Nothing about this is personal or nothing about his performance. However, with the additional declarations of percentages for the coming years, that is my point of contention. That part, as you know, I cannot support the contract as it is presented.:
Board member Leisa Finley also addressed the board explaining why she was not in support of approving the contract for Mr. Mann.
“I, too, disagree with the amount of the contract. Not to dismiss what Mr. Mann has done and I have spoken to him personally and that is just where I stand. I cannot support the existing contract.”
There were no further comments, and vote was taken, as stated above.
Following the overall favorable vote, the board then entered in discussion about the contract of Supt. Richard Dennis. His current contract expires in December, and by law the board must enter negotiations now in preparation for a future decision.
The board voted in favor of authorizing Chairman Jones to notify Supt. Dennis, in writing, to enter into contract negotiations and secure an agreement beyond Dec. 31.
Finley said she wanted to make it clear, the vote only allows for discussions to begin regarding Dennis’ potential contract for employment when the current contract expires.
Following other board business and presentations, the floor was open to the public.
Maryanne Drost first addressed the board. She is a fourth-grade teacher at Eclectic Elementary School. She said she was there to give information to the board of which they may not be aware.
“I am here on behalf of myself and many of my coworkers who are watching and here.”
Drost said that elementary teachers at her school are provided with a reading and math curriculum, and a hands-on science curriculum with consumable items that have not been replenished in five years. She said they are also using an Alabama history book from 2005.
She said teachers must spend their summers attending training to fill in the gaps that these curriculums do not meet on their own time and at their own expense.
“This is the same across all grade levels. Teachers are not paid for the summer months and do not get overtime pay. Most teachers work extra jobs just to have enough money to take care of their own families. And yet we continue to use our personal money and family time to make sure that our students have what they need. What other profession that requires a college degree has to do that?”
Drost has taught in Elmore County for 18 years, she said.
“In that time, not once has a board member visited my school to ask teachers what we need or how they can help us. Our classroom student numbers continue to climb higher each year. Our front office, which should qualify for two full-time staff according to our student count has one employee.”
Drost said the duties of that one person is very heavy. “And yet we are continually told there is no money for new staff. The proposed raises that you proposed tonight for the Chief School Financial Officer (Jason Mann) would easily hire another front office personnel at the very least.”
Drost said that a fellow teacher had contacted a board member, who said Jason Mann deserved the raise because he wrote and received grants for the school system. “Well, I am here to tell you that the majority of teachers and administrators have all written and received grants for their classrooms and schools.”
She said that, and fundraising, is the only way for teachers to fully equip their classrooms because they get so little help elsewhere.
“A board member also stated that (Jason Mann) was irreplaceable and therefore deserved this raise. In these times of teacher shortages and mass school walkouts, you would think that you would view your teachers as irreplaceable also.”
Drost then referred to a recent survey at Eclectic Elementary School that shows that many of the teachers would walk out today if they could. “Not because of the students, the parents or the administrators. But, because of the actions taken by this board and the lack of support by the county office. We all love our school administrators and community.”
She said that she prays that the board listens to the words she has spoken and will move forward making positive changes that will affect all and not just one or two.
She closed with a quote from Sen. Tommy Tuberville that reads, “Let’s ensure our government works on behalf of all of its citizens and not just the ones with connections to people in power.”
Next to speak was Stephanie Fulmer, who said she is a stakeholder in Elmore County schools. She is a parent, a community leader and has been involved as an employer with hiring students from the local area for over 20 years.
“I believe that all stakeholders should be involved in the process of making our schools better. One of the things that concerns me is the lack of transparency with this board. Parents, community members and even teachers don’t seem to be aware of the business of this board.”
She said she believes this could be improved to bring about positive change and mutual respect.
“I want to know what is going on in our schools. I have asked other stakeholders, ‘Why do you not come to meetings? Why do you not speak up?’”
She said, this is what I have been told. “I don’t know when they are. I have a job and cannot be there are 4:30 p.m. Or, they don’t want to know what I have to say. Decisions are made before the meeting begins.”
She said she sees a problem with public input being offered at the end of the meeting after votes have been made.
“Last meeting, I was told after the meeting that I am just one opinion, and that may be,” Fulmer said. “But I think that with the numbers that are here tonight, and the presence from the media, I am not just one opinion.”
Fulmer said that Elmore County has schools with floors that have loose boards and plumbing problems.
“We are told there is no money time and time again. Teachers are in the trenches every single day. Most of those that are single parents have to work additional jobs just to put food on their table. There are teachers in this room tonight that have PhDs that will have to work 35 years to come anywhere close to making a salary that you mentioned for the CFO (Jason Mann.) They don’t get double digit increases.”
Fulmer said she has some suggestions to the board.
“As shown by the division of this board tonight and the vote for contracts, they should be budgeted so that all employees are equitable. You should make stakeholders like me feel welcome in these meetings. You should promote dialogue between parents, teachers, administrators and this board.”
She also suggested that at least one board meeting per quarter, at the least, should be scheduled after 6 p.m. “So, that those of us who work jobs and have families can attend and provide our input to this board. If you truly desire as a board to be transparent, I believe these are easy steps to take.”
