School Begins Work on $6 Million Budget
Although property valuations are not yet available, so revenues are uncertain, the GCISD School Board began work on the 2003-2004 budget July 14. It will probably total $6 million, with expenditures of approximately $5.9 million. The school’s largest single expense, the WADA payment that is sent to other schools, will again be approximately $2.7 million, according to Long.
Salaries at the school will top $2 million before including employee benefits and taxes. Some of those salaries are: superintendent, $72,000; secondary school principal, $41,250; elementary school principal, head football coach and athletic director combined, $55,000; counselor, $33,928; bookkeeper, $37,800; high school secretary, $26,083; elementary school secretary, $32,586; bus drivers collectively, $45,000; maintenance employees collectively, $160,000.
Above regular salaries, collective stipends for athletic coaches are $38,000; collective stipends for UIL coaches are $10,000 and the stipend for band is $4,000. Aides’ salaries range from $13,000 to $22,000.
Secondary School Principal John Petree told the board there are no changes to the elementary and high school student handbooks for the coming year, but there are some state-mandated changes to the student code of conduct. Petree said state code now requires that schools be more specific on rules of conduct and punishment than in the past. He reviewed some new requirements, including a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag, and a period of reflective or meditative silence (parents may excuse their children from both). The board passed the state required changes to the code of conduct.
The board gave Superintendent Steve Long the authority to accept the most advantageous bid for numerous items ranging from property insurance, cafeteria supplies, fuels and maintenance supplies to trash disposal. It also approved several budget amendments, including one which will pay for new carpet in the high school.