The Columbia School District accepted its 2019-2020 budget in a special meeting Tuesday.
The school district is already at its millage cap of 55 mills so there is no property increase, Business Manager Kim Rogers said during her presentation to the school board.
“Over the last couple of years we haven’t increased our millage, yet we have increased our accountability ratings. We have two A schools, added the pre-K program, expanded the choirs and added show choir for the upcoming year, added a piano lab and have art in all of our schools,” Rogers said.
The total revenue presented is $17,926,372, which is a $211,380 increase from the previous year. The expenditures were lower by $970,107. Rogers said some of this is from completion of construction projects that were in the previous year’s budget.
Following the special meeting was the regular scheduled meeting.
The board set the graduation date for Columbia High School to Friday, May 15, 2020.
The board also approved a request from the district’s child nutritionist, Nicole Bass, to increase the cost of student lunches from $2.50 to $2.75 to cover rising food costs. Bass said she is working on making the menus to be closer to foods the students prefer, such as fast food. Bass said lunches that were more like fast foods sold more than any other of the meals offered.
Bass also said the district has received a grant that will allow a kiosk with food items to be put outside of the cafeteria at the high school. Not all students go into the cafeteria at lunch time but sit outside in the breezeway, Bass said. By the installation of the kiosk, the food will be taken outside to them, she said. She further said the kiosk will also work for students who receive free and reduced cost lunch.
The high school will also be getting equipment for smoothies with the grant, Bass advised.
In personnel matters the following were hired pending a current background check as required by state law:
• Kelsey Branch, Jefferson Middle School clerical assistant;
• John D. Bullock, Jefferson Middle School physical education teacher;
• Andrew C. “Drew” Grander, Columbia Elementary School instructional assistant.
The following personnel were also hired:
• Brian Cloys, Columbia High School extended school year teacher;
• Cannie McLemore, Columbia High School extended school year teacher.
The following coaching assignments were approved:
• John D. Bullock, middle school baseball coach;
• Guy Copeland, high school assistant baseball coach;
• Ryan Davis, middle high school baseball coach;
• Ryan Loftin, high school assistant baseball coach;
• Andrew C. “Drew” Granger, high school assistant football coach;
• Derek Jones, boys tennis coach;
• Anna Morris, girls tennis coach.
Also approved was Anna Morris as Jefferson Middle School cheer sponsor.
The next board meeting will be July 15.
