The Watauga County Board of Education approved a recommended
local budget of $13.7 million for the next fiscal year, a slight
decrease from the previous year.
Schools finance officer Ly Marze presented the recommended budget,
saying it was the culmination of many hours of work. “In
light of the economy we wanted to make sure we were prudent with
this budget and I believe we can hold our heads high with this
proposal to the county government,” she said.
Marze said many recurring line items had been reduced but teaching
positions had been protected. She said many state allocations
would also be reduced this year, but the budget would also ease
pressure on the county government.
The budget recommendation includes an allocation for Two Rivers
Community School, a charter school that by law receives the same
per-pupil allocation as the regular school system.
That accounts for a $328,000 line item that previously was funded
through the school system’s fund balance.
The operating budget, which covers cost of personnel and some
support programs, is proposed at $13,025,000, an increase of $219,000.
Personnel is projected to increase 1.6 percent, with cuts in travel,
supplies and instructional fees. The overall school budget, including
state and federal sources, will be about $48 million.
School board chairman Lowell Younce said there would be no additional
teaching supplements this year but the employees are greatly appreciated
and would understand why supplements would remain the same. Teacher
and staff supplements are budgeted at about $1.7 million for the
next fiscal year.
Marze said there would be a slight decrease in operating expenses
if the charter-school funding were removed, and the capital outlay
budget would decrease 27 percent as proposed. Cuts to the Exception
Children’s Services of $100,000 and $60,000 for an at-risk
children’s program in middle school would largely be offset
by federal funds. The final local school budget must be approved
by the county commissioners.
Schools superintendent Marty Hemric said the school year is scheduled
to end Friday, June 5. Hemric said the state budget should be
submitted soon and said there were still no federal guidelines
on education money included in the stimulus package.
Mike Kesterson, project manager for Barnhill/Vannoy, said the
new high school was 52 percent complete. He said there had been
no accidents reported and the construction work was 36 days ahead
of schedule.
The school board also discussed the town of Boone’s plan
to place a raw water intake, with the town seeking additional
support for the proposal. The town wants to draw up to 4 million
gallons per day from the New River near the Brownwood community
and town voters passed a $25 million bond referendum to construct
the plant and water lines.
School board member Steve Combs said water was necessary for jobs
in the community and growth in the schools. School board member
Marsha Walpole said the town might be placed under a moratorium
on development without a new water resource. School board members
Deborah Miller and Lee Warren said they were concerned about the
short notice of the request, finding out over the weekend that
the town would be asking for the school board’s support.
Younce said he recognized everyone wouldn’t support the intake,
but water was necessary for better schools. The board voted to
table discussion until the May meeting.
2009 schools spelling champion Cameron Hastings was recognized
by the school board. Allison Garrett, a teacher at Watauga High
School and leader of the DECA business club, said students had
the opportunity to participate in marketing competitions. Garrett
was awarded the Kenneth W. Smith Award for professional development.
Jessica Lawrence and Daniel Miller were recognized for participating
in the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association competition
and winning first place, receiving $12,000 scholarships and tools
and will go on to national competition in New York.
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