The Clarke County School Board approved a proposed budget for 2024-2025 of $240.6 million, keeping the millage rate at 18.8, as it has been for the past two years. It represents an increase of $26.5 million over last year’s budget. For taxpayers, this means a house valued at $350,000 will pay an approximately $167.57 more in taxes, according to school district officials.
During the work session prior to the May 9 vote, Chief Financial Officer Chris Griner said administrators had considered hiring two new paraprofessionals for each of the district’s 14 elementary schools, but had decided not to do so. Board members voted to add those positions, saying that parapros are “a good investment,” helping classroom teachers. The cost for those positions is $1.175 million.
The budget includes funding state mandates as well as school district initiatives. There is $1.6 million for creating an alternative school in the former Rutland Academy building on Oglethorpe Avenue. School staff includes a director, five teachers, a receptionist, registrar, nurse and two custodians. Both Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools will each be getting another mental health counselor, and the district will hire an additional translator and an information technology analyst. Four unarmed security guards will be joining the CCSD workforce as well.
The state requires the district to provide all certified employees—meaning teachers—with a $2,500 salary increase and all custodians with a $1,000 salary supplement. The school district added a $1,750 increase for all classified staff who aren’t in custodial jobs. The General Assembly and Gov. Brian Kemp have also given each school $45,000 in additional funding for school security improvements as part of the state budget.
The general budget includes “absorbing” 12-and-a-half positions in schools that were paid for with federal American Rescue Plan Act money and nine other positions in the district.
During the public comment period, a parent with a child at Timothy Road Elementary School complained about the recent appearance of former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Hershel Walker at the school. She said that inviting someone with “a history of criminality, misogyny and child abuse” may not have been the wisest choice. She wanted parents to be notified earlier about “who our children are hearing from and not hearing from.”
There will be three hearings on the budget at school district offices. Speakers must sign up in advance with Lisa Palmer ([email protected]) or sign in at the door before the meeting starts. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. on June 3, June 4 and June 12, and the board will take a final vote on the budget at its June 13 meeting. All three hearings will be live streamed and available for on-demand viewing on the CCSD YouTube Channel.
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