PSS FY ’06 budget to include salary increase, new hirings

Public school teachers would get a salary increase—if the Public School System’s $50 million budget for fiscal year 2006 is approved.

The increase is for PSS teachers who were hired in an odd numbered year and who have worked the previous two years with PSS, according to the narrative budget report released by PSS director of finance Richard Waldo during the Board of Education monthly meeting last week.

The PSS budget narratives for fiscal year 2006 proposes a $50 million budget—a $12 million increase over this fiscal year’s approved budget of only $37.2 million.

Based on the report, the increased budget also includes a $484,448 allocation for hiring new bus drivers, diesel mechanics and repairs and maintenance of newly acquired buses; $2.5 million for utilities of all public schools; $2.55 million for deferred maintenance for all schools; $1 million for anticipated retirement costs, accrued leave and military leaves which are for PSS employees who have been recalled to active duty; and $1.5 million for salary increase for PSS employees.

The PSS leadership again met last Wednesday to further tackle the required budget for the next fiscal year, according to Waldo.

Waldo said that because PSS has not been receiving funds for their “all others” account, they would need more money allocated for maintenance of classrooms because “some wirings, floors and doors are already damaged by termites in the schools. The old schools are in danger of falling down.”

The additional budget also includes money to hire new personnel and a staff development officer, funds for student activities such as spelling bees, interscholastic sport activities, technology such as computers and school Internet access, JROTC support, operational costs for curriculum assessment on SPED, Head Start and Early Childhood.

The increase also attempts to add funds to privatize all security services, which the report said could be hired with less compensation than a PSS teacher. Computer technicians would also be hired if the budget level is approved, said Waldo.

The 20 computer technicians eyed for hiring is also expected to alleviate the load of three technical support staff PSS have been relying on to service all public schools computers. Also, hiring a network administrator, a computer specialists, a webmaster, and a procurement officer would help maintain PSS’ increasingly complex and expanding network.