The DeKalb County Board of Education approved a tentative $1.74 billion budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year that maintains efforts to focus resources at the regional level, adds more school nurses, allocates funds for prior pay raises and textbooks, and addresses state-mandated rising costs in employee benefits.
The budget process started in March 2017 and the action by the Board of Education at the June 12th business meeting is just one step in the budgetary process. Between now and June 27, there could be changes to the budget. The public will have two other opportunities to give input at millage rate hearings scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 6:15 p.m., on Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at the Administrative & Instructional Complex, J. David Williamson Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30083.
The final Budget Adoption and Adoption of Tax Levy is expected to be considered by the Board on Tuesday, June 27.
The 2017-2018 budget proposal is expected to enable the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) to build on its momentum following a year in which the district was recommended for a five-year extension of its accreditation by AdvancED, celebrated STEM certifications at more than 20 schools, and saw 17 campuses named to multiple lists recognizing achievements on the state’s 2016 Advanced Placement exams.
The highlight of the funding blueprint is more than $18 million to maintain progress in the district’s five academic regions. These “mini-districts” are led by their own regional superintendent with a laser-focus on a group of high school clusters. Instead of relying on the Central Administration, the regions are able to determine and provide solutions best tailored to the communities their serve.
Other notable budget priorities include (rounded to the nearest hundred thousand):
- Full‐Year Annualized FY17 pay raises – $31 million
- Mandated Teacher Retirement System increase (14.27 to 16.81 percent) – $14.5 million
- State‐mandated classified health insurance increase – $1.9 million
- 403b 2-percent Match Program – $4.2 million
- Special education teachers moved to General Fund – $3.5 million
- Includes General Fund contingency account – $3.1 million
- Nurses for all middle and high schools – $1.9 million
- Summer School Program – $2 million
- Textbooks – $7.5 million