School board OKs $84.1M budget; taxes increase by 0.25 mills
The North Hills school board has approved a final budget that raises taxes by 0.25 mills.
Three security items — including job descriptions for school police officers —- also were approved.
The budget has expenditures of $84.1 million and revenues of $80.3 million. It will be balanced with a $1.27 million transfer from a fund slated for rising pension obligations and a $2.5 million transfer from the general fund balance to the capital projects fund to cover the high school roof replacement.
The millage increase will raise taxes to 18.25 mills, or $33.88 per year on a home valued at $135,000, the median home value in the district. Each mill is estimated to be worth $2.6 million.
Fifteen new positions are in the budget, including five elementary classroom teachers, one middle school and three elementary computer science/math teachers, a middle school student assistance specialist and three elementary special education positions.
Also included as new positions are four school police officers. Current security guards who qualify for the school police positions will be moved into those posts. A safety and security fund will receive $198,192 for security enhancements, and $165,000 is budgeted for additional security cameras and replacement of older security cameras in the buildings.
The budget also includes $304,493 for new curriculum materials in elementary math, secondary family and consumer science and secondary world languages; and $14,908 for equipment and materials for additions to the physical education program at the middle and high schools. Next year, students can choose from new courses including Outdoor Adventures with training on canoeing, flyfishing, kayaking, archery and rock climbing; Foundations of Yoga, Pilates and Mindfulness; Personal Fitness and Sports Officiating and Principlesof Coaching.
Board member Kathy Reid voted against the budget that was approved last week.
In other business from the June 7 meeting, the board approved the job descriptions for school police
officers and the school police chief by a 7-2 vote, with Mrs. Reid and Arlene Bender voting no.
“I will not be voting for anything that has anything to do with a police force within the district because I think about this daily, and I still cannot understand or accept the fact that more guns in more people’s hands will make us any safer,” Ms. Bendersaid.
The district plans to put armed resource officers in each school. The police would be nonunion district employees and would report to the building principals and the police chief. The chief reports to the principals and superintendent.
Requirements for the policeofficer and chief include at least 10 years of experience as a police officer, first aid and CPR certification and current firearms certification.
The police officers would build relationships with students and staff; educate students, staff, parents and community members on such items as drug and alcohol awareness and prevention and community safety; work with outside agencies that provide assistance with mental health or drug and alcohol abuse; perform routine inspections of district property and serve as a member of the Student Assistance Program.
In addition to supervising and training the officers, the school police chief would coordinate and lead the response to any emergency on schoolgrounds.
The board also voted unanimously on a contract with Scenario Learning for SafeSchools Alert that would involve a bullying alert system and confidential tip line that will be available 24 hours a day for students, parents, faculty and staff. Cost of the contractis $1,676.94.