Students all across the county are in the midst of their second full week of school but local school boards, county boards of supervisors and city boards of aldermen are already in the process of making decisions that will affect students for the next seven months.
The Newton County, Union and Newton Municipal have submitted their budgets for the 2017-18 school year and all are projected to finish in the black by the end of next summer. The Newton Municipal School District recently presented its $10.34 million budget in late July for the new school year after clarifying the amount the district will actually receive in ad valorem taxes.
Business Manager Dianne Duke said the school district will get a funding increase of $190,667 in ad valorem taxes, turning a potential $55,000 deficit into a $144,831.92 projected surplus.
New NMSD Superintendent Nola Bryant said some of the budget will go towards new roofs or roof repairs throughout the school district and repairs of its aging bus fleet.
Newton County School District revealed its $16.6 million budget at its Aug. 4 hearing and is expected to finish with a $264,000 surplus at the end of the fiscal year. The $5.5 million portion of the budget that will be spend on support services will allow the NCSD to continue its free breakfast program that was started in 2015. It’s so important for a student to start the day with a good meal to be able to learn, especially for the first three periods, and it’s great to know each student won’t start their school day on an empty stomach.
The district will also spend $150,000 in facilities acquisition and construction which includes the current construction of new bathrooms at the Cougar baseball and softball fields and the construction of new outdoor classrooms at the Vocational Center.
Union Public School District also revealed its $8.8 million FY 2017-18 budget on Aug. 4. Part of the district’s $444,949 expenditures on equipment will go toward proposed plans to install security cameras and new doors on the three campuses.
All three districts will be making improvements this year in security, infrastructure and the stability of their facilities. The three districts are still persevering despite a minimal actual increase in funding from the state and, in some areas, a decrease from the federal government.
No matter what happens in the future as far as outside funding, it is good to know that area school districts aren’t putting much needed improvements and programs on the backburner.
Contact Demetrius at dthompson@newtoncountyappeal.com.
