The Clarke County School District Board of Education will meet for a public budget hearing Wednesday night before approving next year’s budget on Thursday. The budget is far from settled.
Since first proposing the budget on May 9th, the BOE has made several changes, including expanding mental health resources at the high school level and ensuring funding for two paraprofessionals at each of the county’s 14 elementary schools.
At a meeting last Tuesday, Superintendent Robbie Hooker expressed worry that these positions will not be filled at all schools.
“We will have schools that have those two extra positions and schools that may not have those extra positions, and they may really need those spots. So that’s an inequity there,” he said.
BOE members raised several other questions that will likely be answered this evening. One is about how a salary increase will be distributed to classified workers—employees of CCSD who are not teachers or custodians.
At the meeting last Tuesday, Tim Denson of the 5th District championed a compromise that would offer classified workers a $1750 raise in the district’s pay table and a one-time bonus of $750. The other option is to offer a full $2500 raise in the district’s pay table, which the superintendent fears is unsustainable.
Another question that will likely be answered tonight relates to a cost per child increase for after school programs. District 6 member Dr. Mumbi Anderson on the after school program’s daily cost:
“I feel very strongly that the district should be absorbing that increased cost for ASP. I do hope that you all will consider that going from $6 per child to $10 per child is a pretty steep incline for afterschool care.”
After the Superintendent argued that the price per child had not increased in 15 years, Dr. Anderson and Tim Denson offered up a compromise of increasing the cost slowly over several years.
The BOE also addressed the millage rate, which is not projected to change next year. Residents may still see their property taxes rise, however, based on how their properties are assessed.
The Board of Education will meet Wednesday night at 595 Prince Avenue at 6 pm.
