MEXICO – The Region 9 School of Applied Technology board on Monday adopted proposed 2005-2006 operating budgets for the secondary vocational and adult and community education programs.
Proposed is $1,154,968 for the secondary program, which is a 9 percent more than last year, and $232,800 for adult and community education, which is 5 percent more than last year.
Director David Driscoll said substantial increases in the costs of heating and diesel fuel and health insurance premiums have boosted the budget, along with several other factors.
These include 3 percent salary hikes for most employees; moving the position of computer technician/instructor from grant funds, which are now exhausted, to the Region 9 budget; and changing the position of office manager to administrative assistant, a move that carries additional duties and a higher salary.
Voters will have final say at a districtwide meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 17 at the River Road school.
Also on Monday, Driscoll said five architect/engineers from a pool of nine who submitted proposals will be interviewed Friday by the Facilities Committee.
Plans are in the works for major improvements to the existing facility and construction of a six-room addition. Funding would come from the state, 40 percent of it in a grant, and 60 percent in the form of a no-interest loan.
The firm chosen will develop a scope of work proposal, complete with construction plans, cost estimates and drawings that can be displayed to the public. Whether the construction project goes ahead will be determined by voters in a referendum election tentatively set for September.
In other matters on Monday, the board approved spending $3,000 for landscaping work to the front and sides of the school, moving $30,000 from any remaining surplus to the capital improvement fund, and paying $3,000 to comply with State Fire Marshal mandates for adjustments to the school’s stairwell.
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