News
Council approves transition of Parks and Recreation Department operations to Russellville City Schools
Posted on July 22, 2019
Originally published in the Franklin Free Press.
Operation and management of the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department will now be handled by Russellville City Schools, after an agreement was approved at a joint meeting of the Russellville City Council and Russellville City Board of Education Monday evening.
The motion to approve the agreement between the two entities was approved unanimously by both the school board and city council (other than Councilman William Nale, who was absent from the meeting). There was no public comment at either meeting.
The agreement applies for a period of five years beginning August 6, 2019, and provides that the city will appropriate an annual amount of $775,000 to Russellville City Schools, to be paid out on a monthly basis.
The special-called joint meeting came at a time when Russellville City Schools officials are searching for additional funding sources to begin a three-phase capital improvement project, which would begin with construction of a new career technical center.
Several board members and RCS Superintendent of Education Heath Grimes attended a council meeting earlier this year and requested additional funding from the city on top of the $1 million allocated to the school system each year by the city.
Out of that million dollars, though, the school system pays back to the city approximately $660,000 annually on a bond issue debt that dates back to the construction of Russellville Elementary School in 2000. School officials say they are trying to work toward restoring funding levels from the city that were previously allocated to the system. Those amounts were more than the current annual amount.
At Monday’s meeting, held before a large crowd at Russellville City Hall, the council also agreed to refinance the school system’s bond issue debt in an attempt to reduce the interest rate and to allow the school to borrow additional funds toward its capital improvement projects. Because Russellville City Schools is a municipal school system, bond issues must be approved by the city council.
The reduction in interest, expected to exceed $400,000, will allow Russellville City Schools to reduce the annual payment on the bond issue debt and as a result, to borrow additional funds to construct a new career technical center.
Grimes said the school system will now work on plans for the first phase of its capital improvement project.
“Once the cost and plan are approved, we will look to start construction no earlier than January of next year, and it may be closer to fall of 2020,” Grime said.
Construction of a new career tech center and renovation of the current facility is expected to cost between $7-$9 million, Grimes said.
“We hope to continue to expand our career technology program. We are at maximum capacity so we just need more space,” Grimes said. “We have no classroom space available at any Russellville City School.”
The council laid off all Parks and Recreation employees based on the department transitioning to the control of Russellville City Schools. Other than interim Parks and Recreation Director Leamon Mosley, the employees’ last day will be August 5, 2019. Grimes said all existing employees will be invited to apply for employment with Russellville City Schools. Grimes was to meet with all Parks and Recreation employees Tuesday morning to discuss their reemployment options.
There are seven full-time and 38 part-time employees currently employed in the Parks and Recreation Department.
According to city and school officials, monies saved by Russellville City Schools’ operation of the department could be added to the city’s annual school financial allocation to help bring that figure closer to previous funding levels.
“The Parks and Recreation Department is a vital part of our city, and because of that, we want to see it flourish and be a great resource for our citizens,” said Russellville Mayor David Grissom. “We have done our research to see how we could improve our Parks and Rec Department and make it more efficient and effective.
“With what the school system can offer us, we fully believe allowing the school system to manage the day-to-day operations will be the best way to have our Parks and Rec operating at its fullest potential,” Grissom added.
According to city attorney Danny McDowell, the agreement provides that the City of Russellville will pay the amount of its current Parks and Recreation Department budget, less utilities, land line telephone costs and insurance, to Russellville City Schools annually for five years. In turn, if the school system runs the department for less than that allotment, the school system retains those unspent funds. If the cost of operating the department exceeds the allotment, the school system will be financially responsible for the difference. The City of Russellville will also remain responsible for ‘major maintenance’ on Parks and Recreation facilities. The contract provides that the city shall keep and maintain the roof over the facilities, the structural portions of the facilities and the HVAC serving the facilities in good repair, provided that Board shall give city prior notice of the necessity of such repairs… Agreement Paragraph 10.
McDowell said the programs and services offered by the Parks and Recreation Department will not change under the management of Russellville City Schools.
“Ownership of the properties remain with the City of Russellville,” McDowell said. “The agreement provides that the schools will provide the services of the Parks and Recreation Department to the general public. Nothing changes in that regard except hopefully for the better.”
Russellville City Schools Superintendent of Education Heath Grimes said he believes having the resources available of school coaches and student athletes will help the Parks and Recreation Department grow.
“We will use the budget the city has for this department to offer additional supplements to our existing staff and coaches for their time in helping with the execution and management of these different sports,” Grimes said. “I fully believe our coaches can get these kids excited, increase participation, and make the Parks and Recreation Department even better.”
The Parks and Recreation Department is in charge of day-to-day operation and maintenance of the Chucky Mullins Center, the Ralph Bishop Community Center, the Russellville Tennis Complex, the Russellville Swimming Pool Complex, the Russellville Canteen, maintenance and grounds keeping of the A.W. Todd Centre, two pavilions at Sloss Lake, a pavilion and restroom at City Lake Park and all softball, baseball and soccer fields.
Grimes said the school system will introduce a course in its Career Technical Education Department in turf, grass and field management. Students in that program will have the opportunity to help maintain Parks and Recreation fields.
“This is a field that is becoming very popular and we will be able to offer hands-on opportunities in this field for training that will help our students wishing to pursue a career in turf, grass and field management the chance to hone employable skills before they even finish high school,” Grimes said.
Grimes reiterated that the department will continue to offer its current services to the public, along with some improvements. Language in the agreement guarantees this. The Board shall continue to provide the recreational and educational services currently provided by the City within or on the facilities. Agreement Paragraph 4.
“The Parks and Rec Department provides an important service to our city’s citizens. All we are planning to do is restore this department and make it even better by providing more resources (in the form of coaches and program organizers), more maintenance, and more programs for all of the city’s residents,” Grimes said.
Grimes also stressed that even though RCS coaches and employees would be handling Parks and Recreation duties, that the facilities belong to the community and all citizens will continue to have access.
“Just because Russellville City Schools uses our people to work on the facilities, that doesn’t mean the Parks and Recreation Department isn’t for everyone in the community. And just because someone gets in trouble in the school system doesn’t mean they can’t come onto Parks and Recreation property. These facilities are for all kids from all schools,” Grimes said.
As for the annual July 4th Jam on Sloss Lake, the school system will prepare Sloss Lake for the event each year, pursuant to the agreement.
Mosley has served as interim Parks and Recreation Department Director since 2018. The director’s job was posted and 24 applications were received, but city officials has not hired a permanent director since former director Chad Sears was terminated last April.
The resolution approved by the council provides that Mosley shall be retained for 45 days after August 6, 2019, in order to assist the city and school system in the transition of duties.
The resolution contained language praising the job done by Parks and Recreation employees.