The county school systems asked for a combined total of $25,881,098 in funding from the Washington County board of Supervisors for the coming school year.
The largest county school system, Western Line School District, asked for the least amount at $7,006,098 for its just less than 2,000 students.
Leland School District asked for $10,775,000 for its about 850 students.
The Hollandale school district asked for $8.1 million for its 650 students.
The Leland School District is an overall C-rated district, according to data from the 2017 school year, and its budget would allow for $12,676 per student.
The Hollandale School District is an overall C-rated district, according to data from the 2017 school year, and its budget would allow $12,461 per student.
The Western Line School District is an overall C-rated district, according to data from the 2017 school year, and its budget would allow $3,522 per student. Both of the district’s elementary schools are B-rated.
Hollandale Superintendent Dr. Mario Willis said when scores are released for the 2018 school year, he believes the district will maintain its overall C-rating.
“Our athletics teams have been pretty successful as well,” Willis said.
The school system has also added a School Resource Officer in partnership with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
Lawrence Hudson, superintendent of Western Line School District, said the district is asking for a 4 percent increase in the budget over the previous year. The board took the request and will explore whether a millage rate of less than one-half percent will be required to fill the budget. The district said their calculations showed with increased assessments and other revenue increases, the millage increase may not be necessary.
Hudson said the district has also purchased 18 new busses. Each of the busses has air conditioning and cameras.
Hudson said he expects the school system to see a better performance academically than last year, though it may not quite be enough to move up a letter grade.
All of the budgets were approved as submitted while the board will research the necessity of a millage-rate increase for Western Line.
Also at Monday’s meeting, board members:
- Approved $4,158 in repairs to the outdoor warning system. Barring any other failures, this expenditure will bring the system into 100 percent working order;
- Learned from County Engineer Marcus Hooker, the county will begin work on bridges on Wilmont, Sawmill and Greer Roads, after the work is complete on current bridge projects;
- Learned the planning commission is having difficulty with enough of its members attending meetings to conduct business; and
- Learned there are 14 large trees down at Warfield Point Park, which will have to be disposed of before the site can be used.
