Calhoun City Schools holds first budget public hearing
Calhoun City Schools held their first budget hearing for their proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.
That budget would require city schools to pull just over $1.8 million dollars out of its general fund to cover a gap between estimated revenues and expenditures. The public hearing drew no participation or comments from members of the public, and was closed with board members voting unanimously to approve the tentative budget, with Dr. Stephen King absent.
The next scheduled public hearing for that budget will take place on Monday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at Calhoun Depot.
Also on the agenda was the 2023 Retiree Reception, honoring four retirees from city schools: Tammy Berry, Carol
Holland, Angie Hufstetler, and Kris Lowe. Each retiree was honored by coworkers and offered a present from the board. Also recognized were Exemplary ESOL student Iker Najera Garcia and Exemplary ESOL teacher Lisa Holden.
There were quite a few items up to a vote.
City schools looked at purchasing a CNC router for their Construction Pathway program. That would be purchased using Architecture and Construction Essential Workforce funds, as well as Industry Certification grant funds. The quote from Wm. J. Redmond & Son for a grand total of $16,021.90 was approved.
The board also saw three different facility proposals. One was the abatement of asbestos at the property at 344 South Wall Street using $43,000 in SPLOST funds. The bid from Priority Environmental Services, which has done work in the area including the County Courthouse and Annex, was approved.
Another facility proposal was some painting work at Calhoun Middle School, including the gym, G-hall, and auxiliary areas. That would include a custom mural to replace existing artwork in the gym. H/H Services put in a bid
for $28,500 which would be funded using FY24 General Funds. That was approved.
The final proposal was the installation of artificial turf near the high school band room and the courtyard/ cafeteria, which would fix erosion issues. Nationwide Turf placed a bid for $12,618 which was approved by the board, to be paid with FY24
General Funds.
The board also looked at a proposal to surplus some old equipment, including display boards, scoreboards, clocks, and other miscellaneous electronics and equipment. That surplus would allow the school system to recoup some of the cost they paid on that equipment, all of which ranges from eight to fifteen years old. That was approved.
City schools also approved its 2023-24 bus driver salary schedule, and several overnight
and out of state trips were approved for Calhoun High School wrestling and debate.
Upcoming events include the last day of school Friday, May 26, the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 29, post-planning for teachers May 30 and 31, and the next Board of Education Meeting and budget hearing Monday, June 19 at Calhoun Depot, 109 S King St.
For more information on city schools, visit calhounschools.org.