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Wilkes Board of Education approves $27 million tentative school budget The Wilkes County Board of Education gave its approval to the system's $27 million tentative budget for 2009 at Monday night's regular meeting, capping a monthslong effort to reduce expenses. In a statement released with the tentative budget, Superintendent Joyce Williams said that the approval of the FY09 budget was the culmination of many months of budget planning. "We realized back in November that we would be facing a reduction in state and federal revenues and worked in committees at the school and system levels to discover ways to reduce expenditures without sacrificingthe quality programs we have in place." Even with those efforts, Williams said, "We were still forced to cut personnel, streamline many programs, and eliminate some of our programs. However, with all things considered, we feel that the tentative budget approved by the board … is both responsible and responsive to the educational initiatives we have in place and are ready to implement for the 2008-2009 school year." The Wilkes County Board of Education will meet Monday, June 30, at 7 p.m. to consider the final adoption of the budget. At the beginning of Monday night's meeting, the board voted to restore half of the $6,000 annual funding for the Mary Willis Library, saying it was critical to the library system. The board also received draft student handbooks written by the school leadership team of each county school. Board members said they would study the draft handbooks and be ready to discuss the handbooks, with public input, at a session at 6 p.m. just before the June 30 called meeting. Copies of each school's draft handbook are available at the Board of Education office. In other action, the board approved an out-of-state trip to Nashville on July 27 for four teachers to attend a Reading First event, paid for by the Reading First grant. The board also set a workshop July 14 at 6 p.m. to discuss the downsizing and restructuring of grades brought on by the new school complex, since there is no room for sixth grade in the new complex. Requirements for the new school's hardware infrastructure need an expenditure of $60,973.75, which the board approved. Board Chairman Ricky Callaway opened bids on three annual services - fireextinguisher service, propane gas for the bus barn, and liability insurance for school buses. Each service received a single bid, and the bids of Dotson Fire Protection, SouthStar Propane, and State Farm agent Scott Lewis were accepted. Board members were given a copy of the proposed plaque to be mounted on the new school and after discussion, approved the proposed plaque. They also approved two policy revisions concerning personnel leave, and had a first reading on a new policy on high school graduation requirements, which is needed to line up with state policy changes. The board adjourned and went into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation.
The Wilkes County Board of Education will meet next on Monday, June 30, at 7 p.m. to consider the final adoption of the 2009 budget. A work session on student handbooks will precede that called meeting at 6 p.m.
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