The Aiken County School Board will hold a special called meeting to hear input from the public about the 2015-16 budget Tuesday.
The meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the District office at 1000 Brookhaven Drive.
Before the public input session begins, Tray Traxler, the District's comptroller, will present an overview of the budget. Since the Board began discussing the budget in January, member have added:
- A 1 percent cost-of-living raise for all District employees at a cost of $1.7 million
- Funds to include full-time assistant principals at all middle schools, regardless of size, for a cost of $88,100
- Money to staff all elementary schools, regardless of size, with a minimum of one full-time assistant principal for a cost of $344,142
- Funds for a Freshman Academy at South Aiken High at a cost of $195,000
- Funding for a science, technology, engineering and math program at Jackson Middle and a science, technology, engineering, arts and math program at New Ellenton Middle for $323,600, including $118,600 for one-time costs
- $100,000 in one-time money for bands
- $8,375 in one-time money to provide materials for testing in the adult education program
- $47,500 in recurring money to hire one electrician for the maintenance department
- Recurring money to provide equivalent funds to schools for unused athletic supplements
The final budget will be presented June 23.
In other business, the Board is expected to discuss and possibly take action regarding the Superintendent Search Quantitative Rating Form.
During executive session, the Board is expected to discuss contractual issues.
An Aiken native, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard.