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Cabarrus school board adjusts its travel policy
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Published: October 14, 2009
CONCORD — There has been some confusion about money for in-county travel for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education members, but with a clearer policy, this should no longer happen, said chairwoman Holly Blackwelder.
The board passed an amended policy for member compensation and expenses on Monday. Members also eliminated the $100 travel supplement they receive every month, as a compromise for how to use the money and return it to the schools.
Board members receive a base compensation from the county commissioners of about $560 each month. The board chair receives about $670.
In addition to the compensation, members previously received a $100 supplement for in-county traveling and a $50 technology supplement, both meant for expenses incurred by board business, Blackwelder said. These additional supplements are paid for and voted on by the board.
Any reimbursement is for out-of-county travel, since the supplement is meant to cover in-county business.
Blackwelder said recently, a few members had filed for reimbursement for their in-county traveling, though.
She said some of the confusion came from the transition in the last few years as board members became classified as state employees and were subject to different tax filings.
Board member Carolyn Carpenter said she filed the reimbursement forms to show what she had done, but had declined receiving the money meant for traveling.
Because there were different methods being used, Blackwelder recently proposed cleaning up the policy.
The compensation portion of the policy now includes, "Annually, the board may vote to provide a supplement to board members for the performance of board business."
The reimbursement portion of the policy now says it is established for "official, outside the district business and in official, outside the district professional development activities."
Changing the policy made it clearer and aligned the board with the staff and superintendent, who are also not reimbursed for local travel, Blackwelder said.
As a compromise for conflicting opinions on how to give back money to the schools, Blackwelder proposed eliminating the $100 a month travel supplement and keeping a general $50 supplement each month.
The board is hoping to use that leftover money for more out-of-county business and to return the rest to the schools.
Members will vote on how to use the money at a future meeting.
The board also said removing the $100 supplement would almost equal a 15 percent pay cut, which vice chair Wayne Williams had originally proposed in June before the 7.5 percent pay cut was approved.
The new policy and the elimination of the $100 supplement were passed unanimously at Monday's meeting. Members said they were satisfied with the compromise.
"I think it's a way for us to put (money) back into the system," Carpenter said.
The board also announced Monday that Time Warner Cable is no longer televising its business meetings because the franchise agreement ended. For the time being, members invited the public to attend its open work sessions and business meetings.
Approved minutes of the meetings are also available on the school system's Web site.
• Contact reporter Jessica Groover: 704-789-9152
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