RIVERSIDE

The Highland School Board approved a Fiscal Year 2024 budget of $11.5 million at its regularly scheduled meeting April 10.

Expenditures include $6.15 million for instruction and teacher salaries, an increase of more than $700,000 from the current fiscal year.

The property tax levy rate for FY24 is 13.00308, or 13 cents per every $1,000 of valuation. Property taxes are proposed to raise $4.3 million with another $3.5 million coming from state funds and $135,925 in utility replacement money.

“The big thing, for me, is that we will be lowering our tax rate by about 2 cents, from 13.02 to 13 flat,” Ken Crawford, schools superintendent, told The News.

Total expenditures, transfers out and ending fund balances are targeted for $17 million in FY24; the revised FY23 budget is at $17.7 million.

A public hearing on the budget was held Monday night prior to the board’s vote.

Teachers Contract

The board approved a new teachers contract and other staff policies for the 2023-24 school year.

The FY24 deal includes a base pay increase of $355 for a base pay salary of $29,640.

The Highland Education Association proposed a base salary increase of $425 during a negotiations meeting held March 30. The counter proposal by the Board of Directors was a base increase of $250 for a 2.44% total package, along with compendium changes and a salary scale for nurses.

A compromise was reached in just 30 minutes of negotiations with the total package settling at 2.70%.

Board Action

The Board approved the appointments of Michael Eden as assistant varsity track coach and Brandon Devillier as assistant golf coach.

The Board approved a number of district policies.

Next board meeting: The board will hold its next monthly meeting at 5 p.m. May 8. A work session is scheduled for April 24 at 5 p.m.