Includes $5M to complete construction projects

The Andalusia Board of Education on Monday approved a $22.1 million budget which includes a plan to dip into its cash reserves to finish a major construction project at Andalusia High School.

Most of the budget – $10.6 million, or 52.2 percent of the budget – is from state revenues. An additional $2.1 million (10.76 percent) is from federal funds.

Planned expenditures include:

• Instructional services – $9.2 million, or 42 percent;
• Instructional support – $2 million, or 9.3 percent;
• Operation and maintenance – $1.6 million or 7.29 percent;
• Auxiliary services – $1.6 million or 7.41 percent;
• Administrative services – $895 thousand or 4.05 percent;
• Debt services – $1 million or 4.55 percent;
• Capital outlay – $5 million, or 22.61 percent.
• Other expenditures – $599 thousand, or 2.7 percent.

Katie Odom, chief financial officer for the system, said the school receives state funding based on enrollment. The funds received for the 2018 budget were based on an average daily membership of 1,717. That number increased by 23 students to 1,741 for the 2019 fiscal year funding.

As of Monday, the enrollment for the current year (which will determine funding for the 2020 fiscal year), is up again, to 1,761. That number was partially inflated by the addition of a Pre-K classroom, she said.

The system employs 109.49 teachers, three librarians, four counselors, 11 administrators, and 69.04 non-certified support personnel. O the total 196.53 employees, only 5.3 are paid from local funds.

In other business, the board accepted the retirement resignation of Patty Taylor, effective Oct. 1. Taylor, who is a former AES principal and current curriculum coordinator, has accepted a job in the private sector.