A tentative FY 2007 General Fund Budget of $11,762,321 was approved by the Lincoln County Board of Education at its regular monthly meeting held Tuesday, May 2.

The vote was 3-2, with Wayne Williford, Becky Reed, and Board Chairman Robert Williams voting in favor of the preliminary budget and Marcy Remsen and Robert Hearst voting against the motion.

According to Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools, it appears as if an increase in the millage rate will not be needed to fund the proposed budget. If the tax digest experiences the projected two-percent increase, the millage rate will remain at 15 mills.

In essence, the tentative General Fund Budget reflects a $1,602,311 or a 15.77-percent increase over last year's budget.

Some of the items included in the budget are as follows:

A four-percent raise for all certificated personnel, bus drivers, and school food service workers, as mandated by Governor Sonny Perdue, and a four-percent raise for all noncertificated personnel, including paraprofessionals, secretaries, and maintenance/ custodial workers, at a total cost of $841,000.

"This year, our QBE (Quality Basic Education) allotment from the state increased by $864,000 which will be more than enough to cover the raises and the increased cost of health insurance," said Superintendent Edmunds, who added that the figure includes an extra $200,000 in equalization funds. "We got the additional money because we raised our millage rate last year."

A $100,000 state transportation grant to use in purchasing school buses and to offset the rising cost of fuel. In fact, the budget contains an extra $76,000 for heating and bus fuel.

In all, the system received an additional $1,035,000 in state funds for FY 2007, said Superintendent Edmunds.

The purchase of a portable classroom for a second special education class at LCMS/LCHS at a cost of $60,000.

"Since we had to divide the class at LCMS/LCHS, we will need a second classroom with the proper equipment - bathrooms, a kitchen, and so forth," said Judy Kirkland, assistant superintendent for special services. "We don't have a facility like this, so we're going to have to buy a portable unit which is cheaper than leasing one."

The purchase of new blade computer servers at a total cost of $170,000.

The purchase of a second wireless computer lab for LCHS at a cost of $65,000.

"The one we have now is in demand, but it's getting old," stated Dr. Edmunds, pointing out that LCHS has had the lab for seven years.

A new roof for LCES, estimated to cost $204,000 in local taxpayer dollars. The system plans to obtain the balance of the project cost from the state.

In other budget items, Dr. Edmunds indicated that the FY 2007 ending fund balance will be approximately $475,000. "We are projecting an ending fund balance of $1,033,000 for the current year - approximately $500,000 of this will be used to fund the FY 2007 budget."

Basically, the $500,000 from the fund balance along with the $1 million in extra state monies will offset the $1.6-million increase in expenditures.

The board plans to approve the final budget at its regular June meeting.

In his comments, Superintendent Edmunds said, "I'm pleased we have more state money appropriated for teacher raises and increased health insurance costs. Normally, we would have to add local money to what we get from the state to cover the cost of these budget items.

"By covering these costs this year, the state is allowing us to keep the millage rate the same," he continued. "That and the fact that our teachers, administrators, and staff have done a good job of managing this year's budget, resulting in a higher ending fund balance than was projected."

In other business, the board reviewed and approved the Comprehensive Survey Team's Report and the new Local Five-Year Facilities Plan. Approval was granted with the stipulation that Bill Loudermilk, a facilities consultant with the state, would revise the plan to give the roof at LCES first priority.

The current roof has been in place since the late 80s.

Chairman Williams further requested that estimates be obtained on the cost of a tin roof for the school.

The facilities plan was also revised to include needs amounting to $11 million, a figure which encompasses the construction of a new school for grades 6-12, as compared to the roughly $1 million in the needs category in the old plan.

"We're trying to establish need so if we do build a new school, we will have the money available," said Superintendent Edmunds. "By revising the plan, we will start accruing state entitlement money for this purpose. Then, when we get ready to build the new school, the money will be available."

If the board decides not to build a new school, it can make further revisions to the facilities plan next year.

Also during the meeting, the board:

Voted to approve the purchase of rubber flooring for the weight room at LCHS at a cost of $8,086.

According to Larry Campbell, athletic director at LCHS, the floor is currently covered with rubberized carpet, but after 20 years of use, the cement underneath has begun to chip.

In other comments, Campbell said, "We also plan to buy safer equipment for the weight room at a cost of between $900 and $1,000 per machine. We've had three pretty serious injuries so we have a safety issue at hand."

The athletic director went on to note that the equipment, which will be purchased with athletic department funds, accounts for two-thirds of the cost of the renovation project, with the board funding the remaining third. The coaching staff will install the equipment and flooring, saving about $3,400 on labor. "These improvements will make the weight room as good as it can possibly be for the space we have."

In conclusion, Campbell pointed out that if the weight room were not used by regular students instead of just athletes, he would not be asking the board to help with the renovation project.

Was informed by Dr. Edmunds that Amanda Gay, a student at LCHS, was named the first runner-up at the FFA Junior Prepared Public Speaking Career Development Event at the Georgia FFA Convention held in Macon.

Gay's speech was titled "Deer Management in Georgia: Our Safety, Their Health."

Reviewed financial reports for the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) Fund for the period ending April 30, 2006, and the General Fund for the period from July 1, 2005, through April 30, 2006. Quarterly reports were also reviewed for school accounts for the period from January 1, 2006, through March 31, 2006.

Concerning the General Fund, Superintendent Edmunds indicated that the system received a total of $109,000 more than was budgeted in federal monies (Impact Aid and flood control monies from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Medicaid funds).

Was informed by the superintendent that non-partisan qualifying for seats on the board will take place June 26-30.

Voted to approve the following summer school programs for LCES, LCMS, and LCHS:

(1) Those LCHS students who have failed a course and must retake it for credit may do so from 8 a.m. until 3:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday (except for June 2) May 30 through June 27. Language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies courses will be offered.

Tuition is $150 for in-county students and $350 for out-of-county students. Breakfast and lunch will be served each day.

Registration is set for Friday, May 26. Each class will be limited to 18 students.

(2) Remediation classes for those Lincoln County juniors and seniors who failed one of more sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Test

GHSGT) will be held from 8 until 11:40 a.m. and from 12:10 until 3:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday (except for June 2) June 1-29. Students may attend both morning and afternoon sessions if necessary.

There is no tuition fee.

Registration is scheduled for May 26.

(3) A summer school program will be held at LCMS for those students who have failed a course and must retake it to meet promotion requirements. The sessions will take place from 8 until 11:40 a.m. and from 12:10 until 3:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday

except for June 2) May 30 through June 27. Students may sign up for one or both sessions. Language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies courses will be offered.

There is no tuition fee for Lincoln County students, and meals and transportation will be provided.

Registration will take place May 26.

(4) LCMS will offer a summer remediation program for those eighthgrade students who failed to meet the state standards on the reading and/or math section of the spring administration of the CRCT (Criterion Referenced Competency Tests). Parents of the students selected to take part in the program will be notified individually as per the state promotion policy.

The program will focus on differentiated and accelerated instruction and will address the weaknesses noted on each student's individual CRCT profile. Classes will be held from 8 a.m. until 11:40 a.m. Monday through Thursday (except June 2) May 30 through June 22. The re-test will be given at 8 a.m. on June 22.

There is no tuition, and transportation home from the program will be provided.

(5) LCES will offer a third and fifthgrade remediation program for students who did not pass the CRCT during the spring administration of the test. Parents of the students selected to participate will be notified individually.

Classes will be held from 8 until 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday (except June 2) May 30 through June 21. The re-test is scheduled for 8 a.m. on June 22.

There is no tuition, and transportation home from the program will be provided.

(6) LCES will offer a summer reading/ math camp for designated early intervention students in grades K-5. The camp will run from 8 a.m. until 12 noon May 30 through June 12. Parents of the students selected to participate in the camp will be contacted individually.

Superintendent Edmunds indicated that tuition along with state and federal funding should cover all of the expenses associated with the various summer school programs.

Was informed by the superintendent that the system received a 2005 Award for Excellence from the Georgia Education Workers Compensation Trust for "outstanding accomplishments with employee safety."

Heard the second readings of revisions to the Communicable Diseases Policy and the Release Time Policy. The policies received unanimous approval.

Voted to approve the 2006-2007 Textbook Adoption Plan and the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) textbook adoptions.

Voted to approve requests for selected members of the LCHS Debate Team to attend tournaments in Chicago (May 25-29) and Dallas, Texas (June 16-24).

Voted to approve a request for members of the LCHS Concert Band to visit Carowinds May 12-13. Superior rated bands from different states will be performing at the amusement park.

Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate upon the employment and compensation of personnel. Upon returning to regular session, the board:

Voted to approve Eleanor Parnelle for a teaching position at LCES for the 2006-2007 school year.

Voted to approve amendments to coaching supplements.