BOE considers big budget; baseball coach resigns
By Anne Marie Kyzer Staff Writer

Local school board members are looking for ways to trim down next year's budget, which could grow more than $3 million fatter.

At a called meeting last Thursday, the Burke County Board of Education heard a budget proposal from business manager Les Peel. The proposal put the budget for fiscal year 2008 at $41.1 million compared to this year's $37.9 million.

Peel explained the state pay scale increased 3 percent and employee benefits have gone up more than 2 percent. Those increases coupled with the addition of more positions caused the instructional budget to increase about $1.3 million. School administration costs also went up nearly $1 million.

After hearing the proposal, chairman Johnny Jenkins asked the other members to study the budget and look for possible cuts.

The board is scheduled to resume discussion of the budget at a called meeting Wednesday, May 30, at 5 p.m.

In other business, superintendent Linda Bailey accepted the resignation of Burke County High School baseball coach Todd Booker. Booker, a math teacher turned assistant principal, cited the need to concentrate on his duties as an administrator. Booker, who has coached sports for the past 14 years at different schools, also voiced a desire to devote more time with his family.

He will remain as assistant principal at BCHS.