School budget increase concept
In a recent development, the school board of Lexington District One approved a budget allocation for the upcoming school year amounting to a total of $385.1 million, without a millage increase. The approved budget for the 2024-25 academic year allocates a sweeping 90% of the total budget towards salaries.
Among the most significant adjustments in the new budget is a pay rise for teachers. The starting salary for a teaching position has seen a boost from the previous $43,910 to $47,000. To further enhance the perceived value of the job, all eligible employees are set to receive a step increase plus a 3% raise during the school year. The decision to improve teachers’ salaries was bolstered by the passage of a statewide bill, H. 5100, by the House and Senate.
Breaking it down, teachers, librarians, and counselors constitute more than half of the total salary expense, coming in at 56.17%. School administrators, on the other hand, account for 5.3% of salary and fringe expenditures.
The drafting of the 2024-25 budget was not without its hurdles. Key challenges included the end of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) drawn from federal COVID-19 funds. Adding to the testing circumstances was a “significant reduction” in enrollment in Lexington One schools and a redefined state funding formula. A notable dip in enrollment from the previous school year revealed that the current student population is 25,944, which is down by more than 1,200 students.
Despite the obstacles, the budget has made provision for two new student support initiatives in elementary schools named ATLAS and Connect. Designed to address elementary students’ behavioral needs, the ATLAS program will cater to pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students showcasing behaviors that impede their progress in traditional classrooms.
In contrast, the Connect program will address students with significant cognitive and developmental delays whose disruptive behaviors aren’t manageable in a self-contained traditional school environment. Students manifesting such challenging behaviors often carry out regular physical aggression, disruptive outbursts, or shutdown.
Both programs will offer a tailored program lasting nine to eighteen weeks, with dedicated staff support. The ATLAS program will need approximately $815,000 for salaries, between $36,000-40,000 for furniture, $80,000 for resources and supplies, and partnerships with nurses, food service, and mental health services.
The Connect program budget will be divided into two phases, with phase one allocating more than $118,000 for equipment and staff. Phase two, slated for the 2025-26 school year and focused on preparing the Rosenwald Community Learning Center for the program, is expected to cost around $67,000.
Several contingency items could be added to the budget, including special education staffing to tackle needs that surface during the school year, amounting to $375,000, and mobile computing device repairs costing around $50,000. This is due to the discontinuation of technology repair and replacement fees charged to parents.
The school board has indicated its intention to reassess the budget and make necessary amendments after receiving revised revenue figures from the state.
Indiana Congresswoman, Rep. Victoria Spartz (R) Charged with Violating Weapons Regulations at Dulles International Airport…
South Carolina Economy Continues to Surpass Expectations South Carolina - The latest economic data from…
State Agencies Join Forces To Combat Drunk Driving on July 4 In a significant bid…
Appeals Court Green Lights Biden's Student Loan Repayment Plan In a landmark move, a federal…
Biden Stands Unmoved in Polls Despite Shaky Debate Performance In an unexpected twist, the Biden…
Panama to Close Darién Gap Route, US to Foot Bill for Migrant Repatriation Inaugural Pledge…