School budget approved for 2020-21; seeks no increase in county funds
The Pulaski County School Board, meeting Tuesday at the high school, approved a school budget for the 2020-21 school year that seeks no additional local funding from Pulaski County.
“This is the best budget I’ve ever had the pleasure working on,” commented Chris Stafford, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Business Operations.
The $49.2 million budget funds the School Board’s top four priorities including raises for teachers and staff, reduced health insurance premiums and increases the school bus replacement cycle from two to five buses per year.
While the spending plan does not seek an increase in the county’s $15.5 million appropriation for education, it does include just over $2 million in increased state funding due primarily to an increased average daily membership (ADM) next school year.
The original state ADM projection was 3,792 students, but the revised ADM figure on which the amount of state basic aid is figured is 3,860, which results in more state funding.
State funding is projected at $28.5 million for next school year.
The four priorities covered by the additional $2 million in state funds – along with about $247,000 in budget savings due to personnel changes and retirements – include:
- $1.3 million for new teacher salary scale with salary adjustments and step increase
- $216,013 for two percent salary increase for all support staff
- $205,884 for reduced employee (family) health insurance premiums
- $292,261 to increase school bus replacement cycle from 2 to 5 buses per year
Also included is $206,465 for increased employer VRS contribution rates.
Stafford noted the teacher salary scale and adjustments will match Radford City School’s scale for teachers with a bachelor’s degree, and will actually top Radford in years 6 – 10 on the scale.
Matching Radford’s teacher pay has been a desire of the school board for a while, as area school divisions increase competition to hire teachers.
Stafford said the ability to reduce health insurance premiums – especially for family coverage – will be a “real difference maker” in competing for teachers and will put Pulaski County near the top in the area when comparing family coverage rates.
He added the move will also put school employees’ family coverage rates closer to those of county employees.
Stafford and School Superintendent Dr. Kevin Siers both believe the school board’s 5th and 6th top priorities – the addition of a career counselor at the high school’s Career and Technical Education center and an additional school counselor at Pulaski Elementary – are still within reach next school year.
“We believe these can still be done through more restructuring and further attrition through the end of the school year,” Stafford said.
Siers told the board adjustments to the budget may yet be needed due to the current state of affairs with the coronavirus.
“In all the teleconferences (with state officials) we’re having they’re telling us over and over again to keep an eye out on sales tax revenue what with all the business closings and employees out of work,” Siers said.
He added that if the county grants level funding the adjustments won’t have to be very big.
By MIKE WILLIAMS, The Patriot