News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Van Buren County School’s new fiscal year budget has passed its second reading with little changes.
Director of Schools Cheryl Cole said the proposed $7.4 million budget includes a two percent raise for teachers and support staff.
“Expenditures we kept about the same,” Cole said. “I think there was $180,000 difference and that was a decrease because we are trying to use our ESSER funds to help offset some of our expenditures. Revenue was about the same as it was last year.”
Cole said bonuses based on state testing for teachers are also included. Cole said the differentiated pay plan would reward up to $1,000 to the whole district if it earns an above average score.
“If we are a three, four or five the teachers would receive a bonus,” Cole said. “If we’re a three, it is a $600 bonus. A four is $800, and if the district is a five, it will be $1,000.”
Cole said a larger capital project the school plans to do is replacing doors and windows at all schools. Cole said the Board of Education will meet again on June 29th for the final reading.
