Teacher supplements, reading tutors recommended

The Board of Education Budget and Finance Committee has voted to recommend an $839,000 increase to last year’s $12,496,011 expense budget.
“This is a pretty bare bones budget,” said Superintendent Jim Watson.
It will cost $354,000 just to keep the school system at its current level.
“This is pretty much the price of doing business,” said Rusty Beam, chairman of the budget and finance committee.
Another high priority item, teacher supplements, will cost $130,000. The board believes this will encourage quality teachers to work in Lincoln County.
Rather than spend $420,000 for full time second grade teacher assistants, the budget and finance committee has decided to recommend hiring part time reading tutors for second grade students.
“This is an attempt to give every classroom tutorial help,” said Superintendent Jim Watson. “I think that’s a step in the right direction.”
Hiring part time reading tutors would cost $9,000 for each elementary school. The total cost would be $99,000 for the district.
Of the $99,000, $40,000 would be a local budget request, and Average Daily Membership money would pay for the additional $59,000.
“Cost wise this is best for the schools,” said Steve Zickefoose, assistant superintendent for business affairs.
Due to state budget cuts, second grade assistants only worked part time this year.
Joan Avery, a board member, hoped to reinstate the teacher assistants full time. She believes it would help improve student’s reading ability.
“Full time second grade assistants are the backbone of the primary reading program,” said Avery.
“We can’t compromise our high standards and accomplishments by putting a price tag on the future of our children.”
The reading tutors would work 20 hours per week. Hiring them full time would greatly increase the cost.
“When you put it full time, you immediately jump your budget up 20 to 30 percent,” said Watson.
“There are individuals who want part time employment. It depends on what their circumstances are.”
The budget and finance committee has recommended spending $114,000 on an additional Academically and Intellectually Gifted teacher, music teacher and art teacher.
The budget also includes $84,000 for a middle school career technician and $63,000 for a local technology budget.
Athletic directors and Student Information Management System Operators will receive additional funding from the school system.
SIMS operators will receive a total of $21,000 from the budget for an additional two weeks employment in the summer.
The budget also includes a total of $18,000 to go towards athletic directors’ summer employment.
The final additional current expense budget request is $15,000 to go towards Pre-K programs.
The budget and finance committee is also requesting an increase of $126,000 on their $1,074,000 capital outlay budget. by Sarah Grano