Board of Education approves budget

The Homewood Board of Education approved its budget for next year following a second budget hearing at its Sept. 15 meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Bill Cleveland pointed out that Homewood receives more local funding than state funding unlike some other districts.

“We are about 60 percent coming from local versus the amount we receive from the state,” Cleveland said. “That speaks highlight of this community, of the folks that preceded all of us up here, of the leaders we have had in this community that value education.”

Lynn Bush, Chief Financial Officer, presented the budget at the meeting, and the board members thanked her for her diligent work preparing it and answering their questions through the process.

The majority of expenditures of the budget are on personnel. The general fund ending balance has increased to $3,655,758

The increase was based on the removal of salaries payable. There was also an increase in enrollment resulting in gain in revenue, an increase in earned teaching units and a decrease in local teaching units.

The presentation also included a list of the percentage of teachers who have advance degrees by school: Homewood High has 86 percent, Homewood Middle 76 percent, Edgewood Elementary 73 percent, Hall Kent Elementary 67 percent and Shades Cahaba Elementary 73 percent.

Additionally at the meeting, the board approved the FY 2016 Capital Plan, the superintendent applying for federal funds for next school year, the superintendent negotiating contracts relating to the FY 2016 Capital Plan, 2015-16 unit of pay supplements, a revised rate of pay schedule for 2015-16, technology subscription renewals, audit services, an out-of-state field trip for the Homewood High School band and Board Policy DJC.

The next Board of Education meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Board office.