UCS Increases Coaching Stipend and Receives Bump in Revenue

Blairsville, Ga – Union County Schools’ (UCS) coaches to receive Pioneer RESA recommended athletic supplements for the upcoming school year.

Board approved the athletic supplements for coaches and trainers for the 2019 salary budget.

“We did not cut the budget, explained Superintendent John Hill, “In an attempt to compensate our coaches at a more adequate level, we got our supplements aligned with the RESA low average. We’re still on the bottom end of the athletic supplements.”

Overall supplements have gone up around $150 across the board, but to achieve this they absorbed some positions when people left the schools. Now, the coaching supplements are slightly more competitive than before.

Strength and Conditioning coach stipend remains on the pay scale, but no one is receiving it.

“We’ve had it for probably five years and they did it by season. They gave a coach a stipend to work before and after school. They didn’t run it the way I wanted it run. At this moment, no one is receiving that but it is a placeholder if we have someone who can do it correctly,” explained Hill.

UCS is the only system in Pioneer RESA that doesn’t pay coaches extended year salaries. Those changes were made to save money during the recession to help save money.

“It also is helpful to the younger employees because if you’re a brand new employee five days versus a person with a specialist degree and 25 years’ experience, that amount of money is a lot different, stated Hill, “Everyone is paid the same.”

They also added a new supplement for $2,000 for an athletic trainer.

July Financial Report

UCS is one step closer to receiving entitlement funds from the state.

The state released $346,000 of funding, and the district’s waiting on a document from a construction management firm for the state to release the second round of funds.

Assistant Superintendent David Murphy mentioned that he spoke to UCS’s consultant last week, and the consultant stated that all schools in the state of Georgia are waiting on entitlement funds.

Currently, the budget is 86 percent complete for the fiscal year and only 78 percent of the money has been spent.

“I’m looking at these numbers, we’ve taken on a new police department, ran all the way through,” said Councilwoman Janna Akins, “We’ve only spent 78 percent of the money that’s been budgeted, so we’re doing awesome things. I think it’s really impressive.”

UCS Financial Director Karen Bundy commended Police Department Chief Chad Deyton on his frugality and always coming to her before making a purchase.

“This proves that you are also very frugal,” said Chairwoman Cynthia Odom, “It shows that people are working hard to cut, which is wonderful.”

“It shows that people are working together, not working in isolation. They’re problem-solving,” said Hill, “They are a high-functioning team. We have the highest-functioning team that I’ve been exposed to.”

Local revenue has increased because of interest earnings, which totaled through June at $153,000. Originally, UCS budgeted only $20,000 for local revenue.

Forestland earnings came in at $57,780.04, and the school doesn’t budget for that because it isn’t guaranteed.

State revenue also significantly increased due to grant money that isn’t budgeted for in the initial balance.

Instructional Services department went over their budget because of unpaid student salaries. EPLOST money has also gone up.

Bids

UCS hired Athens Janitorial to save on custodial expenses. They will visit all the schools in the district, inventory supplies, and order as needed. This should eliminate supply overages that the schools experienced with Supply Works and ordering their own materials.

“Last year we spent around $125,000 – $150,000 with Supply Works just to keep our schools staffed for custodial and we had to do the ordering,” said Murphy.

Athens Janitorial will inventory, order, provide recommendations, and train custodians in OSHA for $76,500 a year. No contract’s involved; it’s paid month to month. It should save UCS around $50,000 a year.

The board also approved an off-bid from BSN on new gym flooring for the middle and high school. The current flooring surrounding – walking track, stairs – the courts are safety hazards for students and faculty.

The bid came in at $90,000 and the school district expected around $180,000 for the project, but labor isn’t included in the current bid.

Samples are coming to see the product before entering into an agreement and ensure quality flooring for both schools. Also, BSN is new in the flooring space but did provide the new goalposts for the football field.