The Andalusia Board of Education approved a $15.62 million budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

HIGHLIGHTS
Instructional services – 53.84%
Instructional support – 12.85%
Operation and Maintenance – 10.21%
Auxiliary services – 10.76%
Administrative services – 4.73%
Debt services – 4.12%
Other – 3.69%
Total – $15.6 million

The budget includes state funding for

97.31 of the system’s total 104.68 teacher units, which system Chief Financial Officer Katie Odom said is down from last year. The state also provides funding for 2.5 librarians, 3.5 counselors, and 5.5 administrators. The total employees funded by the state is 108.81 of the 182.02 total system employees.

In other action, the board:

• Hired Emily Smith as a preschool enrichment paraprofessional for the system’s new pre-school enrichment program at Bright Beginnings Preschool. The system also has one K-4 classroom at Andalusia Elementary.

• Set its next meeting for Mon., Oct. 19, at AHS.