Bradley school board OKs budget

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - A proposed $63 million budget for 2012 was approved Tuesday by the Bradley County Board of Education.

The schools budget, the largest piece of the overall county budget, is scheduled for a hearing before the County Commission on May 23 at 7 p.m.

The general funds school budget includes about $21.3 million from local funds, $41.5 million from the state and $380,000 from federal funds. The general fund budget does not include wholly federally funded programs.

"This balanced budget reflects our school system's educational priorities that have been developed and is the corporate opinion that it's the very best we can do with the resources we have been allocated," county schools Director Johnny McDaniel said.

He and board Chairman Troy Weathers emphasized that no teachers lost their jobs, as has happened in some other systems. McDaniel also said that during the past year the system opened Park View Elementary and completed a fine arts building at Bradley Central High School.

The board also approved a cafeteria budget, mostly federally funded, with no increases in meals prices for next year.

A capital needs list, using $1.5 million, also was approved for the fiscal 2011-12 year that begins July 1.

Budget Director Rick Smith said the money is available because the "Education Jobs" federal funding this year frees money from other budget areas.

The capital funds list includes $400,000 for roof work not related to the April 27 tornadoes, and it includes $200,000 that could be used to buy commercial office space. The storms ripped the roof from the trailer offices of the school system's information technology department.

McDaniel said the system needs more space for information technology and storage of test-related materials.