The Fulton Public Schools Board of Education will hold a special session this evening at the district's central office.
The board plans to meet at 7:30 p.m., or immediately following their closed executive session at 6 p.m. in the board's office. According to the board's meeting packet, board members will be taking action on the April 2020 ballot campaign budget.
FPS' Committee for Excellent Schools-Funding and Hollis + Miller Architects, who have worked with FPS on their facilities planning, suggested the board's cost range for the April campaign be $10,000-$12,000. The board's initial fundraising target was $7,500.
"Our challenge is to determine fundraising responsibility to prepare 'vote yes' materials or simply prepare information materials without a vote request," FPS superintendent Jacque Cowherd said.
The district plans to use funds toward signs, newspaper advertisements and direct mailing pieces. Cowherd said expenses for the August 2018 campaign totaled $1,740.
The preliminary ballot language for Proposition S states that if passed, FPS will borrow $27.5 million without an increase of their current debt service levy, which will remain at $0.7612 per $100 of assessed valuation. The money would go to a number of district projects that include site development, security enhancements, a gymnasium addition at FHS, theatre improvements at FHS, additional classrooms at Fulton Middle School and much more.
"Significant funds are needed prior to the Winter Holiday if
campaign materials are desired without paying a premium for rush orders," Cowherd said.
Additionally, the board will discuss an upcoming audit on the Fulton Public Schools Foundation. While the district's auditor, Gerding Korte and Chitwood CPAs, believes an audit is necessary, the foundation's board does not think it is appropriate with FPSF's current budget.
FPS' auditor believes the audit is needed to ensure the district is eligible for an "unqualified audit opinion." Earning a "qualified audit opinion" could potentially impact the April 2020 bond issue's interest rates.
"The concern with receiving a qualified audit opinion, meaning there is some type of audit irregularity, is the potential effect on new bond issue interest rates," Cowherd said.
After working with the school board president Emily Omohundro and foundation treasurer Rick Gohring, the foundation will be audited prior to Dec. 4. Cowherd said the audit's cost shouldn't exceed $4,500.
Cowherd recommends the board authorizes this payment to Evers and Company to complete the audit. Cowherd said if the Dec. 4 deadline is not met, the board will need another December meeting to discuss the matter.
FPS is also looking to add two social workers to the district with the money remaining from the August 2018 operating levy increase. The district will begin advertising for two nine-month positions in December and will look to make hires in January 2020.