The Demopolis Board of Education Tuesday morning accepted a $19 million budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year during a special meeting. The school system held two budget public hearings on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The proposed budget reflects revenues of $19 million with expenditures over $21 million. The system currently has $3.6 million in reserves. The projected balance at the end of the 2015-16 fiscal year is projected to be $1.1 million.
State revenues for the upcoming budget are projected at $12.39 million; federal revenues total $1.78 million; local revenue sources should account $4.1 million; and other sources will account for about $780,000.
Under expenditures, instructional expenses are estimated at $11.7 million; instructional support is $2.9 million; operation and maintenance is $1.7 million; auxiliary services is budgeted at $1.7 million; general administrative expenses are $1.2 million; capital outlay is $300,000; debt services will be $883,000; and other expenditures are set at $539,000.
Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff said adjustments may be needed following Monday’s vote by the Alabama Senate to take $100 million our of the Education Trust Fund to assist with General Fund shortfalls.
“We always project low and will review in January to see what revenues are coming in,” Kallhoff said.
The school system must submit its budget to the state by Oct. 15.
The school board also discussed other items during the meeting, including several bid items.
The board approved two maintenance bids for painting. Both bids awarded were submitted by Wyatt Painting and included a $49,600 bid for Westside Elementary and $45,800 for painting at Demopolis Middle School.
Also approved was a bid from Zanner Bloser for fourth and fifth grade textbooks. The approved bid was for $14,025 and will be paid for using federal dollars.
Under personnel, the board approved the resignation of ROTC Instructor Donald Drummond at the high school. The board also approved the conditional employment of fourth grade teacher Dana Dossett as well as the hiring of seven substitute teachers.
Kallhoff also informed the board that this year’s district enrollment totals 2,278, 70 more students than attended at the end of the last school year. There are 516 students at Westside, 517 at U.S. Jones, 534 at the middle school, and 711 at the high school.
Kallhoff also reported that Westside Elementary is the recipient of a Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama Be Health School Grant. The funds provided will be used for physical education equipment and booklets promoting good health.
Kallhoff said he held the first meeting of a Superintendent Advisory Council, made up of representatives from each school. “It was a very productive meeting. It provides an opportunity for us to brainstorm ideas on how we can do things better,” he said.
The superintendent also said he will be working next week to kickoff a “Take 3” program where students, parents, teachers, and others can submit questions that he will answer through the system’s website and social media. Questions can be emailed to Take3@dcsedu.com.
At the next regular board meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 21, a new program to recognize district employees and students will begin. The program is being sponsored by Robertson Bank.