In Jan. 29 Issue
By Greg Wells
Times Journal Managing Editor

Despite the state missing a payment for food service last month the school district has a $3.7 million balance and approved an $18.4 million tentative budget for the coming fiscal year.

Superintendent Scott Pierce said that tentative budget includes a 1 percent pay raise for teachers.

"I will say that I'm more optimistic than they are at other districts," Pierce said.

"When the state legislature is done and the feds do whatever they are going to I think we may be better off than this budget anticipates."

Before the meeting those board members reelected to their seats were sworn in and during the meeting they all voted to approve the leave of absence for Vanessa Antle and the district's wellness plan.

Also approved were the final payments to contractors on the new band room at the rear of the high school, and change orders for the auditorium / natatorium.

Those changes included $17,565 for an independent drainage system for the pool deck area that was required by state inspectors, and a sidewalk addition.

He said $59,000 of the $62,473 cost of that addition will be covered by a state grant, and that addition of the sidewalk was part of the agreement that netted the new traffic light at the entrance to the school complex in midtown.