SA approves budget

The South Adams School Board approved its 2004 $11.1 million budget Tuesday by a unanimous vote.

South Adams Supt. Connie Bailey has characterized all the budget estimates as “safe” because of the state’s inconsistency with making payments to schools on time and in the full amount promised.

There is an increase of $119,000 in the general fund compared to last year due to incremental increases in teacher pay and an increase in the amount the corporation has to pay in benefits.

The $11.1 million is broken into the various funds as follows: $8,636,910 in the general fund; $450,370 in debt service; $1,015,429 in capital projects; $898,190 in the transportation fund; $70,000 in the bus replacement fund; and $46,200 in special education preschool fund. The corporation plans to purchase one bus in 2004 and prepare to collect for another during that school year.

The budget was advertised on Aug. 6 and again on Aug. 13 in the Berne Tri-Weekly and the Decatur Daily Democrat and was prepared on 85 percent of assessed valuation.

In other action Tuesday, the board:

• Raised the price for driver’s training classes and fees by $25 to $275 and hired Dean Stahly as the instructor.

• Approved the South Adams Middle School Handbook.

• Granted the following leave requests for middle school teachers: Chris Hyman, Nov. 10 through the end of the 2003-04 school year; Kristie Brown from Dec. 13 until March 1, 2004; Jennifer King, Nov. 13 until March 1, 2004.

• Unanimously voted to hire Tammy Alig, cook, South Adams Middle School; Amy Kirchofer, half-time aide, South Adams Elementary.

• Approved the conference requests of Tom White for the Indiana School Safety Conference, Indianapolis, Oct. 27-28; and to the Assistant Principals Conference, Indianapolis, Oct.7-8.[[In-content Ad]]