SUFFOLK
The School Board on Thursday approved a $155.6 million budget that includes eight new pre-kindergarten classrooms and an average 5 percent raise for all employees.
Six of seven board members voted for the plan. John Riddick Sr., who represents the Nansemond borough, was absent.
The education budget is now headed to City Council, with final action scheduled for May.
The 2008-09 budget calls for a local contribution of $50.1 million – $4.5 million more than the previous year. Part of that is because of the opening of Hillpoint Elementary School in the fall.
“If we get the budget that the board adopted tonight approved by City Council, we should be in good shape,” said Superintendent Milton Liverman.
Liverman and the School Board made giving salary increases to teachers and support employees a top priority. The raises, which school officials say will make the division’s pay more level with neighboring districts, will cost about $4.7 million.
The major difference between the board’s approved budget and the $155.3 million proposal released in February is the addition of $840,907 in state funding to expand preschool. The division, which currently has 16 pre-K classrooms, cut some equipment from the budget to cover about $50,000 needed to fully fund the new preschool classes.
The budget also includes: 83 new positions (16 more than originally proposed because of the pre-K additions), funds to start a high school International Baccalaureate program, and money for the initial phase of moving students in the night alternative program to a daytime setting.
The spending plan – which Liverman has described as “conservative” – is up from the 2007-08 budget of $144 million.
Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com
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