$77.8M Clover School District budget approved

Clover School District Board of Trustees approved the $77.8 million general fund budget for 2016-17 that includes pay raises for bus drivers and 27 teaching positions.

No one spoke during the open forum at Monday night’s public hearing.

Bus driver pay will increase 3.2 percent, or $3 an hour, to start at $12.72 and up to $19 based on experience.

At the June 13 work session, Ken Love, assistant superintendent for business services, said driver pay will be the highest in York County and should help with recruiting.

The board also approved the operating tax levy, which will fall on businesses, owners of second homes and vehicles. The 4.8 mill increase amounts to $28.80 in taxes for each $100,000 of assessed value.

The budget also includes 2 percent increase in the teacher salary schedule, plus a salary step increase of about 2 percent for eligible teachers, at a cost of $760,150. It also would include a 2 percent pay increase for other employees, including assistants, cafeteria workers and custodians.

The 2016-17 proposed budget is $4.7 million higher compared to 2015-16 due to district growth. The district expects 400 more students at a cost of $2.4 million, as well as advancements in the need for technological learning.

Included in the budget is $1.7 million toward adding 27 full-time teaching positions, with the majority of new positions in classrooms and teaching positions, Superintendent Marc Sosne said.

Other new positions budgeted at $210,000 include four custodians and one maintenance tech to maintain the new elementary and middle schools, both opening in August.

The new budget year begins July 1.

Other news

Kelly Clayton with project managing company Cumming Corp. furniture was moved into the new Oakridge Elementary School on June 20. Work continues at new Clover Middle School for opening in fall, trying to finish the groundwork, he said.

The first inspection for the aquatic center on Charlotte Highway is July 29, Clayton said. The facility is scheduled to open Labor Day weekend.

Work also has begun at the former Clover Middle School, which will be the Ninth Grade Academy, scheduled to open 2016-17 school year.

Sosne said the public will be invited to tour the buildings and there will be a ribbon cutting of the new schools on Aug. 7. The elementary school event will be at 2 p.m., and middle school at 4 p.m.

This story was originally published June 28, 2016 at 9:44 AM with the headline "$77.8M Clover School District budget approved."