Friday, June 6, 2003

School board approves budget

Board President Katie Reeves announced last week that the Fulton County Board of Education approved its tentative budget for 2003-04 which includes a 2.8 percent pay raise for employees with satisfactory evaluations and provides program enhancements for students.

Last week, the board approved a full rollback of its millage rate to remain revenue neutral with no school tax increase.

At its May 28 meeting, the board approved the following programs and services to students:

Staff with student-teacher ratios at 20:1 in grades 1-3. After the tenth day of school enrollment count and staffing adjustments, ratios may be adjusted to the state's maximum class size.

Expand elementary foreign language to five additional schools: Liberty Point, Evoline West, Creek View, Ocee, and Dunwoody Springs. Continue implementation of elementary foreign language to fifth grade in schools with fourth grade programs.

Provide an additional teacher for English language learners.

Provide additional School Social Workers who will continue to serve all schools while improving services to schools with higher numbers of referrals.

Seek federal funding for additional resource officers.

Increase the number of K-5 Early Intervention Teachers (EIP) to provide additional support in reading and math.

Withdraw funding for the School-Within-A-School and Quality Team.

"This new budgeting process produces a tight budget, but provides improved services to students," says Reeves. "The board worked hard on this budget to reward our employees and put tax dollars where they really countwith students and schools. This budget gives incoming Superintendent John Haro a sound budget with a generous reserve fund for emergencies."