The District 55 School Board approved a $41 million budget for the 2014 – 2015 school year last evening, representing a $1.9 million increase over the current year. Superintendent Dr. Billy Strickland noted the budget is tight, with no contingency fund, but also noted there is a $6 million fund balance to cover emergencies.
District Chief Financial Officer Rodney Smith noted the additional expenditures are covered without the need for a tax increase. Dr. Strickland added that no increase will be required to handle debt service, either. Smith said that unlike last year, this year the legislature has finalized educational spending so that the budget is more solid. He said that of 78 vetoes by the governor, only 5 dealt with education, and none impacted District 55. He said the $41,075,642 spending plan is the same as presented in a recent work session.
Superintendent Strickland said the budget will improve the student-teacher ratio for District 55. The plan restores 8 classroom teachers across the district, restores 1 art teacher and adds 1 ESOL teacher and 3 teaching assistants. Noting concerns for safety, Billy Strickland pointed out the budget funds 2 new Student Resource Officers.
He said changes in the state budgeting formula will help District 55 in two areas this next year. One is funding for the new ESOL teacher and the other is a new weighting formula that provides additional funds for districts like 55 due to the number of students in poverty.