Daniel Prince
Budget report shows nearly $6 million positive figure with three months left in fiscal year
In other news from Monday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Joey Haney noted some upcoming events. The teacher of the year and support staff of the year banquet is set for next Tuesday, May 3, at 6 p.m. at Sunset Farms. The retirement banquet is scheduled for Thursday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m. at Main Street Junction. Graduation will be Saturday, June 4, at 9 a.m. at Union County Stadium. Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up May 2-6, and the district and schools are planning activities to honor the teachers during that week. Haney thanked the Office of Special Services for coordinating Jacket Games, a tennis event for special needs students that was held over two days in late March and mid-April, due to inclement weather. He asked for continued prayers for the family of Stephen Jennings, who tragically was killed in a wreck last week. He thanked the district’s guidance counselors who came over along with C-4 Ministries, local pastors, and youth pastors to be available to counsel students and staff.
Several Union County Career and Technology Center were recognized for their outstanding performance in competitions last month. Michael Garner placed third in collision repair in the Skills USA State Leadership and Skills Conference. Sha’Kiya Hughes placed 2nd in criminal justice in the Leadership and Skills Conference. William Scott placed 3rd in criminal justice in that same competition. Jamaria Walton placed 2nd for dental terminology in the HOSA State Leadership Conference. She will be heading to the international competition in Nashville in June. Later in the meeting, the school board approved an overnight field trip related to that competition, as Walton will be traveling with her family to Nashville, but her teacher will be taking a district vehicle to it, which needed approval. Tykaylee Altman placed 3rd in extemporaneous speaking for the FFA’s competition. Jaiya McKissick placed 5th in public speaking in the FFA competition. Jacob Leigh, who was not present at the meeting, was honored for placing third in tool identification at the FFA competition.
New Finance Director Kelly Richardson presented the March finance report to the board, stating that overall revenues for the district are at $25.6 million, while expenses are at $19.6 million, leaving the district’s net position at nearly $6 million to the positive with three months left in the fiscal year. She gave the board a legislative update, saying that the SC House and Senate versions of the budget bill are pretty far apart, and the House has already passed a continuing resolution to provide funding at the current level in case the conference committee cannot resolve the differences in the bills. Some of the differences deal with starting teacher base rate increases, how allocations will be calculated, and tax rebates. Richardson said she hopes to have more information in the coming weeks as to how the differences will be resolved and what that final budget will look like and how it will affect Union County Schools.
We’ll have even more from the meeting in tomorrow’s newscast.