The Aiken County School Board approved one new employee position for Human Resources and expanded another for middle schools during a special called meeting Tuesday.
Before the two new items were added, the general fund budget, which includes operations, totaled $176,286,167, and the overall budget totaled $270,052,847.
"No tax increases are proposed," said Tray Traxler, the District's comptroller, who presented an overview of the 2015-15 budget.
The new Human Resources coordinator position would be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the District's plan for recruiting and staffing a diverse workforce.
The cost of the 12-month position would be $90,000 in recurring funds.
Board members also approved full-time attendance aides at middle schools, regardless of size, at a cost of $136,500 in recurring funds. All middle schools currently are allocated a half-time attendance aide who is scheduled to work three and a half hours per day.
The aides enter data into Powerschool, a Web-based system that manages student information, which affects funding.
The District funded full-time attendance aides for all high schools, regardless of size, in the 2012-14 budget.
Other items tentatively approved for the 2015-16 budget are:
- A step increase for all eligible employees
- A one percent cost-of-living adjustment for all employees, not including supplements
- Staffing each elementary school, regardless of size, with a minimum of one full-time assistant principal
- Staffing each middle school, regardless of size, with a minimum of one full-time assistant principal
- A one-time $4 increase per pupil for janitorial supplies
- A one-time $4 increase per pupil for copier supplies
- Creation of a PowerSchool assistant position for the technology department
- A one-time item of $8,375 for adult education testing materials
- A one-time item of $296,369 for technology antivirus software
- Funding for a science, technology, engineering and mathematics program at Jackson Middle and a science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics program at New Ellenton Middle
- Providing any high school with funding equal to unused athletic supplements
- A one-time item of $20,000 for Board room upgrades
- Funding for a Freshman Academy at South Aiken High
- Funding for one additional electrician position for the maintenance department
- A one-time item of $100,000 to be split among the District's high school bands based on enrollment
A budget hearing is set for the next regular Board meeting at 7 p.m. June 9 at the District office at 1000 Brookhaven Drive. The final budget approval will be on June 23.
An Aiken native, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter. He started at the Aiken Standard in September 2014.