Lexington One Approves Budget with Slight Teacher Raise and Introduction of New Programs

In a recently concluded session, the Lexington District One school board approved a new budget for the forthcoming academic year. This budget, which stands at $385.1 million, carries no millage increase, a relief for taxpayers in the district. Strikingly, the 2024-25 budget allocates about 90% of the total spending to salaries, a move aimed at improving the district’s educational services.

Salary Increments and Distribution

Under the new budget, the starting salary for teachers has seen a favorable rise to $47,000, a notable increase from the previous starting salary of $43,910. All eligible staff members are also set to enjoy a step increase, topped with a 3% raise. Teachers, librarians, and counselors will account for more than half of the total salary and fringe, representing 56.17%. School administrators, on the other hand, will make up 5.3% of salary and fringe.

The increase in teacher’s salary is a direct benefit arising from the passing of a statewide bill, H. 5100, by the House and Senate. Despite the favorable increment, the board faced numerous challenges in the preparation of the 2024-25 budget, including the conclusion of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds from federal funds, a significant dip in enrollment, and the introduction of a new state funding formula.

Introduction of New Programs

The upcoming budget incorporates funds for the introduction of two new programs in elementary schools—ATLAS and Connect. These newly introduced programs are designed to support elementary students with behavioral needs. Through these programs, students struggling with behavior that impedes their success in traditional classrooms will receive aid, consequently enabling them to succeed academically.

The ATLAS program targets pre-kindergarten to fifth-grade students, while the Connect program is designated for students with significant cognitive and developmental delays. The latter program aims at managing behavioral disorders that cannot be handled in a self-contained classroom in a traditional school setting.

These programs are designed to be temporary and will run for about nine to eighteen weeks. Each student will receive a tailored program, complete with a dedicated staff keen on their progress. The budget allocation for the ATLAS program includes roughly $815,000 for salaries, $36,000-$40,000 for classroom furniture, $80,000 for resources and supplies, and additional funding for partnerships with health services.

The budget for the Connect program, on the other hand, is divided into two phases. Phase one allows more than $118,000 for program equipment and staff, while phase two, scheduled for the 2025-26 school year, will cost roughly $67,000.

Contingency Items

The budget has also considered potential unexpected costs, such as special education contingency staffing to manage arising needs throughout the school year, which is expected to cost an estimated $375,000. An allocation of $50,000 for mobile computing device repairs has been set aside to cover the costs of repairing or replacing these critical learning devices.

The Lexington District One school board will revisit this budget and make necessary amendments after receiving revised revenue figures from the state. This new budget reflects a proactive approach to improving service delivery in Lexington One schools, primarily through teachers’ salary increments and the introduction of new programs.