School board adopts $167 million plan
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 5, 2014 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Board of Education adopted a $167.1 million budget at its meeting Monday night.
The 2014-15 budget includes $21.3 million in local appropriations, $4.3 million in restricted local funds, $113.9 million in state funds, $15.8 million in federal grants, $9.9 million for child nutrition, and $2.9 million for capital outlay.
The budget total decreased slightly from last year, when it was $169.8 million. That amount was nearly $30 million less than the year before that, when it was $196.4 million, in part because of construction projects that have since been completed.
The district is again involved in construction projects and renovations, with two new schools being built in Grantham and Spring Creek. It is also on the threshold of a 20-classroom addition and cafeteria expansion at Charles B. Aycock High School, which recently prompted the need for services for asbestos abatement.
The contract was standard and met requirements for building demolition and renovation, Safety Coordinator Allen Smith told the finance committee when it convened prior to the full board meeting.
Board member Dr. Dwight Cannon asked if there should be concerns about such unexpected costs.
"We're in a building project. I wonder how that will impact us, especially when we're breaking things down and funding things that are not budgeted," he said. "Where will that come from?"
Finance Director Beverly Boltinhouse replied that she was confident in the status of the construction project, because it is currently coming in under budget.
"When we do renovations, sometimes we find things we did not expect," Schools Superintendent Steven Taylor said. "We have contingency funds in there. Hopefully, we will not have to use those but that contingency will always help us."
Cannon also asked what had been done for instructional support staff, specifically secretaries. Taylor said there had been no increase to their salaries in recent years.
"I would love to see something done," Cannon said. "We would not be successful if teachers get a little bit, coaches get a little bit."
Mrs. Boltinhouse said the secretarial staff had not been left out completely, as they received the same raise that the state doled out earlier in the year.
Cannon suggested considering merit pay for secretaries, based on length of employment.
"I would really hope that (Taylor) and Mrs. Boltinhouse look at this, that we could at least give some kind of incentive," he said.
Board member Rick Pridgen said there are others who also provide important services to children, including nurses.
Taylor said that every year school districts are faced with threats of losing "valuable services."
"Every single employee in the district is important and they play a vital role," he said.
The board also approved the following six contracts:
*$42,798 in federal funds to Heinemann Distribution for reading lab materials in grades K-4.
*$41,500 in state funds to N.C. Carolina New Schools for coaching services and professional learning events at Wayne Early/Middle College High School for 2014-15.
*$8,236 in capital outlay funds to Summit Engineering and Construction Services for asbestos design and air monitoring for renovations at Charles B. Aycock.
*$330,235 in local funds to Surry Insurance for property insurance for the current school year.
*$18,100 in federal/Title I funds to Teresa Smith for consulting services.
*$15,538 from local funds for Lorie Waller as payment of 25 percent of shared salary employment between WCPS and Wayne Community College.