School board approves budget: Kanawha County officials cite loss of state, levy revenue as reasons for $1.2 million decrease

DAILY MAIL STAFF

The Kanawha County school board has given its final stamp ofapproval to a budget of nearly $195.3 million for next school year.

That amount represents a decrease of nearly $1.2 million from thecurrent school year, said Harry Reustle, school system treasurer.That includes a $508,000 decrease in excess levy revenue and a$692,000 decrease in state funding, he said.

The budget was approved by a 4-0 vote at a meeting Mondayafternoon. School board member Pete Thaw participated by telephone.Board member Becky Jordon was out of town.

The county is now adopting new math textbooks at a cost of $6.2million with the bulk of that cost coming from the current budget andthe remaining $2.252 million from the 2005-06 budget, Reustle said.

Textbook adoptions are mandated by the state, but not funded bythe state.

A drop in student enrollment of 327 students cost the county $1.6million in state funding for salaries.

Professional and service personnel salaries will decrease nearly$1.7 million next year.

School officials have cut 75 positions for next year, though mostof the cuts will be achieved through attrition, Superintendent RonDuerring said.

However, due to excess levy requirements, the number of artteachers in Kanawha County schools will increase from seven to 12next school year.

WESTEST processing will cost the county an additional $17,000 nextyear for professional and service supplemental wages.

Also, the county will spend $48,000 for closing the achievementgap, a state Department of Education initiative geared to meet NoChild Left Behind requirements.

An additional $25,000 is in next year's budget to cover increasinglegal expenses.

The county also budgeted $75,000 for moving portable classrooms toaccommodate population shifts among schools.

Among costs expected to increase next year are maintenance,gasoline, waste disposal, grass cutting, health insurance andpostage.

In other business, the board approved a 10-year contract withJohnson Controls Inc. for energy management at a cost of $785,000 ayear.

The firm has been providing the service for the last 10 years andguarantees saving the county at least that much in energy costs.

Board member John Luoni asked to see an annual report to show thatthe board is saving as much as it is spending for the service.

A meeting to discuss a timeline for West Side school consolidationwas set for 6 p.m. May 24.

Contact writer Charlotte Ferrell Smith at charlotte@ dailymail.comor 348-1246.