Cherokee School Board Approves 2017-18 Budget

CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee County School Board has approved its 2017-18 annual budget, which the school district says funds improvements in teaching and learning and safety and security without a millage rate increase.

The $590 million budget invests $382 million into day-to-day operations, 71 percent of which will be allocated to classroom instruction, including the continuing effort to decrease class size and the purchase of the first new instructional resources for elementary English and language arts classes in more than a decade.

Other major investments include reconfiguring Boston Elementary School’s entrance road to improve safety; retrofitting six more schools with security foyers limiting visitor access; purchasing 19 school buses to meet demand and replace aging vehicles; and piloting a new online GPS system that will allow parents to track the location of their child’s school bus.

Operating reserves also are rising to $49 million, with an additional $29 million in the building fund reserves, as part of the district’s plan to further raise its credit rating.

“We appreciate the strong support of our school board and community in meeting our mission of educating the emerging generation,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower. “We are dedicated to serving as responsible stewards of our community’s resources, and this budget shows our focus is exactly where it should be: on the children.”

While state funding increased to cover its portion of a 2 percent salary increase recommended by the Gov. Nathan Deal, rising mandated retirement system fees and student enrollment growth, the state continued its austerity budget reduction withholding of $4 million in funds earned by the district – funding that would have otherwise allowed for greater class size reduction.

Thursday’s meeting also included a presentation on the district's new teacher induction program, which will expand professional development, mentoring and collaboration opportunities and extend this support over three years. Data collected through surveys of new teachers hired in the last two years, as well as evaluation results and feedback from administrators, was used to develop the new model.

Dr. Hightower praised the work by curriculum and instruction leaders to develop the initiative, which he believes “will pay significant dividends with our younger teachers” and provide a model for other school districts statewide.

School Board Chair Kyla Cromer and board member Clark Menard both complimented staff on their efforts, especially the program’s extended timeline and varied opportunities for growth and development.

“It’s going to be very helpful for those new teachers,” Cromer said.

Board members also approved the sale of a small parking lot at Hill Circle and Academy Street in downtown Canton to the highest bidder, Harris Development, for $50,000.

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