The budget proposed for Oak Ridge Schools for the fiscal year that starts July 1 includes 3 percent salary increases and a request for an additional $538,048 from the city. As proposed, the budget also includes the reduction of the full-time equivalent of four teachers and an increase in five technology positions.
The budget was presented to the Oak Ridge Board of Education on Tuesday. The board has a work session to discuss the Fiscal Year 2017 budget at 5:30 p.m. today (Thursday, May 12) and a work session to review the budget line by line at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 16.
If implemented as proposed, the budget would ask the city for a 3.6 percent increase in funding. It would also include experience-based pay increases known as step increases for staff.
It would include money to fund a 6.2 percent increase in health insurance rates and another 10 percent for dental insurance.
The teacher reductions would be based on enrollment and student course selections. The cuts would affect the full-time equivalent of two current staff members, according to the proposed budget.
The increase in technology positions would support technology initiatives.
The budget would use roughly $1.27 million from the fund balance.
You can see the proposed budget highlights here:Â Fiscal Year 2017_Proposed_Budget.
The BOE will consider the budget in the first of two readings at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. That meeting will include a public hearing.
The second and final reading is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 23. The regular monthly school board meeting for May will follow at 6 p.m. that day. The regular monthly meeting has been rescheduled to that day from Tuesday, May 31.
You can view the agendas for the above budget meetings by clicking on this link.
The Oak Ridge Board of Education meets at 304 New York Avenue.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Mike Mahathy says
Please note the schools would be using more of the fund balance to offset costs. We are fortunate now to have city council and BOE working together, led by Mr. Watson and Dr. Borchers. While we may not agree on everything to be proposed in both budgets the current working environment is good for all of us.
Angi Agle says
The cost of a 3% increase for staff (the same as will be proposed for City employees, I believe) is $1,103,706. The requested increase from the City — $538,048 — is less than half of that. So, we’re simply asking the City to cover half of the raise.
Sam Hopwood says
We shall see if the city manager proposes 3% raises for city employees. If so, then bravo for all!