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GREENSBORO — The county commissioners typically get sticker shock when they receive the Guilford County Schools annual budget, and this time should be no different.

Did the Guilford school board submit a good budget? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

On Wednesday, the Board of Education approved 9-2 its 2008-09 local budget of $181.2 million, which represents nearly a 10 percent increase in county funds over the current budget. Anita Sharpe and Garth Hébert voted no.

Much of the additional $16 million would cover expenses associated with educating more students and rising costs for personnel and energy.

The school board also took steps to overcome the frustrations of employees, parents and community groups. For example, the budget would redirect $1.5 million to add 32 art, music and physical education teachers to elementary schools that saw cuts in class time last year. It also would raise the district's minimum hourly wage by 35 cents to $10.41 per hour at a cost of $480,152.

Board members indicated they hoped to eventually pay all workers a "living wage" of $12.40 an hour, which the federal government says is needed to afford a one-bedroom apartment in this area.

Mark Jewell of the Guilford County Association of Educators told the school board that some employees have to work two or three jobs because of the low pay.

"Obviously, it would be an incremental change the board would make," Sharon Ozment, co-interim superintendent, said about the $10.41 wage. "But I do believe it is a step in the right direction."

The board also voted to fund:

• A $74,800 arts coordinator position by eliminating one of two early college academy directors;
• The expansion or implementation of high school reform programs for $709,000;
• A new reading program at middle schools for $475,000; and
• The full-year operation of an evening high school currently at Smith High School for $533,067. This does not include costs associated with the board's desire to expand to a second site.

The school board gave itself some wiggle room in the budget by projecting salary raises of state-paid teachers and classified workers at 8 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

Gov. Mike Easley has proposed 7 percent increases for teachers, and both 1.5 percent increases and a one-time bonus of $1,000 for classified workers, such as bus monitors and teacher assistants.

The school board downsized the cost of proposals to address school climate issues from $4.3 million in 2007 to $1.7 million. The latter amount does several things, including adding seven social workers, reading teachers to middle schools and high schools, and a behavior management program to 10 schools.

The budget passed without controversy; only two members of the public — regular speakers Jewell and Joe Stafford of Greensboro — addressed it at the beginning of the meeting.

"I think we have listened to the public," school board member Kris Cooke said after the final vote. "We have tried to put in the things they requested."

The school board sends the budget to County Manager David McNeill today. The county commissioners' next meeting is May 22.


Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or morgan.josey@news-record.com