Trustees of the Texarkana, Ark., School Board approved a proposed $33.7 million budget for the 2016-17 school year during their regular meeting Tuesday. Up from last year's $33.2 million budget, it includes a three percent employee salary increase.
District Finance Director Andrew Hill said actual numbers aren't in on the cost of the salary increase and the proposed budgeted salary amount of $20,051,398 could change throughout the school year.
The proposed budget also shows an expected $347,156 surplus at the end of the year.
In other business, the board approved purchasing a GPS monitoring system for the district's buses. They approved a three-year commitment with Zonar to directly track students as they board, ride and exit the bus. The initial cost for the program is $28,656.31, and will cost $20,549.63 each year for two more years.
Students in Arkansas High's computer lab will have new Dell Optiplex computers on which to do research- the board approved the purchase of 30 computers from CDW-G for $26,592.31. The board approved purchasing a reading program from Pearson Reading Intervention for Kilpatrick, College Hill and Trice elementaries. The program was piloted at Fairview and Union last year with success, and Pearson will replace the Reading Recovery program at all the schools.
Also approved was the Renaissance Learning assessment program to give teachers valid and reliable data to individualize student instruction. The total $91,700.41 will provide math and reading products, STAR 360 assessments and professional development for College Hill Elementary, College Hill Middle, Trice, Union, Fairview and Kilpatrick. Funding comes from both campus and district Title One budgets.
Thirty iPads were approved for North Heights Junior high for research, collaboration and creation to support students in core areas. The purchase of $15,105.99 comes from the magnet grant.
PCMI Services-Willsub will also continue as TASD's substitute teacher service provider. The district began outsourcing for substitute teachers through the company in January, and has renewed the contract for the 2016-17 school year.
The board elected new officers during Tuesday's meeting. Larry Manley was elected president, Anita Clay was elected vice president, and Glen Spears was elected secretary.