Thursday evening, the Pearl River County School Board held a special meeting to discus the budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

School District Business Administrator And Director Of Operations TJ Burleson presented the Board with his proposed budget during the meeting. He said that student enrollment jumped from 3,203 students in 2017 to 3,245 students in 2018. Despite the increase, state funding from the Mississippi Adequate Education Program dropped by more than $700,000. Burleson said the decrease may be due to attendance problems the District faced over the 2017-2018 year. He said there were a lot of children out with the flu and other illnesses, which affected daily attendance.

When the District’s bonds are sold, Burleson said the District will receive an estimated $1.2 million.

Burleson also discussed changes in staffing for the upcoming year. At the elementary school, a secretary, student services coordinator and two SPED teacher assistant positions were added. In addition, the days for two of the elementary school’s lead teachers will be increased. At the high school, one CTE counselor position has been added. At the endeavor school campus, an additional resource officer position was added and a current teacher will be given more days so they can take on additional student service coordinator duties, Burleson said. Salaries across the district will also be adjusted.

Several positions were also removed, including a principal, reading coach, reading tutor, three assistant teachers and one regular education teacher positions from the elementary school, Burleson said. A teacher position was removed from the high school as well, he said. On a District-wide scale, several other contract and maintenance budgets were reduced and a part-time computer technician position was removed.

Burleson said the revenue will likely be approximately $22,232,305 and the expenditures will likely be $22,287,305. Due to the difference, Burleson said he anticipates the District will have to use approximately $55,000 from the reserve fund.

Of the total expenditures, 50 percent will go toward classroom instruction, nine percent toward instructional support, seven percent to facilities, six percent to food service, six percent to transportation, six percent to school administration, five percent to debit payments, four percent to technology, three percent to executive administration, two percent to athletics and activities, one percent to the business office and one percent to school security, according to Burleson’s presentation.

Burleson said facility costs will likely go up by about 10 percent when the new buildings are completed as part of the recently approved bond issue.

The Board will have the option to approve the budget at its next meeting on July 16, at 5:30 p.m.