Budget work session May 10
Anderson School District One will hold a budget work session at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 and are expected to have an administrative recommendation on the principal position at Palmetto High by that time.
During their meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Dr. Wayne Fowler told the board that the District has accepted applications for the position and will be interviewing candidates today (Wednesday).
The position is coming open due to the resignation of Dr. Mason Gary who has accepted the Superintendent position for Anderson School District Three.
The field will be narrowed down by Friday, Associate Superintendent David Havird said, and the administrative recommendation will be made to the board in a special called meeting held before the budget work session in May.
Dr. Fowler told the Board Tuesday that until the House and Senate set the state budget and decide on a two percent or four percent raise for state employees, including teachers, there is no need for the board to hold a budget work session.
Budget projections discussed at the March school board meeting were based on a 2 percent raise which is in the House version. The raise could go to 4 percent if the Senate approves it, changing the projections.
Dr. Fowler said that some senators have introduced amendments to include more employees or to add more money to the budget to cover salary increases.
Associate Superintendent Havird said that the House wanted all employees including teachers to get the two percent raise. The governor has stated that she will veto an increase and the senate will need to have a 2/3 vote to override the veto.
Havird also said that District One hopes to be able to adjust years of service pay to bring it in line with where it would have been before a hold was put on increases in 2010.
Dr. Fowler said he plans to present the District One budget to the Board at the work session May 10. The draft will then be sent to the County Board by their required date of May 25. The board is expected to vote on the final budget at the May 29 board meeting and then present it to the County Board for their approval on June 12.
At present the 2012-13 District One draft budget is based on the House budget which sets the base student cost at $2012, an increase from $1,874 last year.
The House budget provides revenue for a two percent salary increase for school employees.
Overall, State funding provided by the House budget will result in an increase in revenue for the District of $548,488.
Projected expenditures in the District One draft budget include a 2 percent raise, $850,000 (which could change); one percent retirement increase, $390,000; 4.6 percent health insurance increase, $110,000 and 6 percent utilities increase, $215,000.
Also in the draft budget, teachers certificate upgrades will result in an additional $125,000; additional school level personnel, $407,500; instructional supplies, $60,000; library books, $94,000 and reading adoption enhanced materials, $100,000.
The IDEA funding reduction due to the state not meeting maintenance of local effort (MOE) will result in $150,000 coming out of the general fund budget for the salaries of four teachers whose salaries were being paid from the federal funding.
Personnel recommendations for the 2012-13 school year include adding 6.7 FTE professional and 2.9 FTE support staff.
To make up the difference, the board has the ability to raise an additional $300,000, with a tax increase (on business and rental property) and the budget can be supplemented with funding from the District contingency fund if necessary.
