School Board Closes Budget Gap, Reduces Raise

Employees of the Putnam County School system will not get the full 3-percent cost of living raise proposed by the school board.

The board has voted to reduce that raise to 2-percent as a way to help eliminate a $3.5 million gap between projected expenditures and revenue.

Board member Dawn Fry said it was a very difficult decision to make.

“They deserve much more than what we were able to give them,” Fry said. “I hope they understand that and they realize that we take that very seriously.”

Fry said the board will be providing $500 in instructional funds to teachers this year, a $100 increase from last year.

“We know that our teachers spend so much out of pocket for their classrooms,” Fry said. “That’s going to mean an extra $100 for them to spend on supplies or whatever they want for instruction in their classrooms.”

The board also voted to cut five new art teachers and four new clerical staff positions from the proposed budget. The board also voted to use about $1.5 million dollars from the fund balance to help cover the gap.

“We feel comfortable in doing that and we’re happy with the budget that we were able to put out,” Fry said.

The Putnam County Commission allocated $300,000 to the school system in a one time outlay. That funding will allow the school system to install air conditioning to the gyms at Cane Creek Elementary and Algood Middle School. Lights will also be installed at the AMS softball fields.

The school board will meet again on Thursday, August 2nd.