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The Opp City School Board of Education introduced a $14.79 million budget yesterday, which is an $800,000 decrease from last year’s budget.

The board expects to spend:

• $9.5 million on instructional services.
• $1.4 million on operations and maintenance.
• $1.5 million on auxiliary services.
• $846,329 on general and administrative services.
• $838,764 on debt services and
• $543,170 on other expenditures.

The reason for the decrease is because of the average daily attendance number dropping and the 4 percent pay increase for teachers.

State funding for teachers is based on the average daily attendance or enrollment. Funding for the 2019-2020 budget introduced last night was calculated on an enrollment of 1,252.65 in 2018-2019, down 21.2 students. OCS’ current enrollment is 1,264 students.

The system employs 86 teachers, three librarians, three counselors, five administrators and 43 support staff.

Out of the 164 employees, 5.27 were paid from local funds, 130.75 from the state and 27.98 funded from federal funds.

The estimated beginning fund balance is $4.1 million and the projected end balance in September 2020 is $4,095,080.

The board also:

• Hired Sara Morgan as a teacher at Opp Middle School.
• Transferred Ashley Tyson to student support and attendance coordinator.
• Approved an audit contract.
• Approved nursing services.
• Approved a contract with Cosby and Cosby LLC, for counseling services.
• Approved to surplus old desks.
• Approved a contract for a digital billboard.