With anticipated year-end reserves of $7.3 million, the school system would be left with $3.5 million, or less than two weeks operating expenses, remaining in the general fund.
At the time the preliminary budget was presented, assistant superintendant of business services Ken Cato Budget said his department had identified six items that needed to be added to the budget with the approval of the Board. After extensive discussion during the Thursday night financial planning session, the Board approved five of the six items and added an additional item to the budget.
The budget additions include:
• $51,800 to fund two career center coordinator positions – one at each high school. These positions had previously been funded through a federal grant.
• $333,400 to develop and implement a computer replacement cycle.
• $112,600 to add two new social workers. The school system has not added a social worker position in over five years despite adding over 8,600 students in the same time period.
• $371,200 for roofing improvements to the early learning center.
• $200,000 to cover rising fuel costs. The fuel budget now stands at $1.2 million, a 50 percent increase from last year.
• $218,000 to add six nurse positions. The additional positions will increase the school system nursing staff to 12, allowing for the placement of a nurse in every elementary school and the early learning center.
Budget planners had requested the Board approve $310,600 for the purchase of additional school buses. Several board members expressed concern that the payment would have a detrimental effect on cash flow due to the proposed timing of the payment. The Board asked transportation director James Cantrell to explore the possibility of a lease-purchase arrangement or other alternative financing.
In other business, the Board:
• authorized the purchase of ten Freightliner buses. The $718,000 expense is part of the 2009 budget and will be due in July, the first month of the school system’s fiscal year.
• authorized the replacement of the Westside Middle School gym floor with RCA rubber flooring. The new flooring is expected to cost a maximum of $58,100.
The Board will hold another financial planning session on Thursday, May 15 at 6 p.m. The board meets at 179 W. Athens Street in Winder.
