A budget for fiscal 2011-2012 with projected revenues exceeding anticipated expenditures by over $1.9 million was approved by the Morgan County School Board at its regular meeting Thursday night.

The budget vote, which was unanimous, followed a second proposed budget review conducted by Chief School Finance Officer John Godwin. No one from the audience offered comments or asked questions during the review even though copies of the budget and comment forms were made available prior to the meeting.

The budget reflects revenues totaling $74.3 million and expenditures totaling $72.6 million, leaving a positive balance of $1.6 million. In addition, a balance of $223,000 is reflected after other fund uses are subtracted from other fund sources, bringing to $1.9 million the difference between revenues and expenditures.

Godwin said the balance will be applied to the school’ system’s surplus fund and should

raise it to about $2.7 million as of Sept. 30, 2012. A surplus of about $5 million is needed to meet a State Department of Education requirement.

A revenue breakdown shows $40 million, including $2 million in capital outlay funds, coming from the state, $27 million from local sources and $6 million from the federal government. Other sources total about $435,000.

Expenditures are broken down as follows: instructional services, $37 million; instructional support services, $11 million; Operations and maintenance, $6 million; auxiliary services, $10 million; administrative services, $1 million; debt service, $3 million; and capital outlay $300,000.

The budget does not provide a contingency for proration of state funds; however, revenue figures are based on what was received in fiscal 2010-2011.

“I’ve not heard anything about proration coming from the state,” Godwin told the board, but it’s something that could come at any time. “A good sign is a slight increase in state and local tax revenues in recent weeks.”

He said a 3 percent reduction in state revenues would affect the school system to the tune of $1 million.

“I’m very pleased with the budget,” said Superintendent Bill Hopkins. “Mr. Godwin and the budget committee worked really hard during a difficult time to come up with what I feel is a realistic budget. What I am most proud about is the fact that we were able to make some hard cuts without jeopardizing the integrity of our classroom instruction.”

“Financially speaking,” he added, “if the economy improves and we are able to get through the school year without proration, I feel good about the direction in which our school system is headed. “

Other items were acted on as follows:

• Approved a field trip request from Brewer High School to allow out-of-state travel for an FFA student and chaperone to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Oct. 18-22. The student will represent Alabama in the Poultry Proficiency Award competition.

• Approved a field trip request from West Morgan High School to allow 90 band students and their chaperones to visit Disney World for “Magic City Days” April 15-20, 2012.

•Accepted low bids as follows: paint, Lowe’s; carpet, O.F. Richter and Sons, $21.38 sq. yd.; floor tile, Flooring Supplies, $1,50 sq. ft.; and propane gas, Ala-Tenn Propane, $1.689 gal.

•Approved a resolution requesting the Alabama State Department of Education to transfer the deed for property on which the campus of Ryan School is located back to the Morgan County Board of Education.

• Approved request for, West Morgan High School to enter into a rental agreement with RBP for two copiers to be used on the West Morgan campus. The agreement will commence on Aug. 15, 2011 to Aug. 15, 2012 and will be implemented at no cost to the Board of Education.

• Approved a contract with J. Farley Consulting Inc. to conduct PEPE evaluations for Morgan County school administrators at the rate of $550 per employee evaluated (not to exceed 10 employees), effective Sept. 30, 2011, through June 1, 2012.

• Approved a special education services contract with Huntsville Achievement School, effective Aug. 19, 2011, to July 31, 2012. The school will provide educational services for eligible students,

• Approved a special education transportation contract with Robert Demeski, effective Aug. 19, 2011. He will provide transportation student from home to Huntsville Achievement School and back each day the student attends school at a rate of $55.5 cents per mile.

• Approved payment of $33,507 to Alabama Risk Management for schools for the 2011-2012 renewal of the board’s ARMS general liability/errors ad omissions liability fund participation.

• Approved request from West Morgan High School to purchase and install an electronic sign at the front of the high school and middle school with funds donated by the town of Trinity and a grant obtained by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur. The sign will be installed at no cost to the school system.

• Approved a contract with Aleyda Schwaiger for Spanish interpreting/translating services for parents and/or students during parent-teacher conferences, effective Sept. 29, 2011 and March 15, 2012. She will be paid $20 per hour, not to exceed five hours on each day with funds provided under Title I

•Approved a contract with Monica Myrick for Spanish interpreting/translating services for parents and/or students during parent-teacher conferences, effective Sept., 29, 2011 and March 15, 2012, She will be e paid $20 per hour, not to exceed five hours on each day with funding provided under Title I.

Personnel items were recommended by the superintendent and approved by the board as follows:

• Accepted notice of retirement from Cherie Sanford, countywide nurse, effective Oct. 1, 2011.

• Approved Title I and/or Title III tutors for Morgan County Schools during fiscal year 2012 as follows: A. Dawn Burgess, Cheryl Robinson Bumpus, Donya Brewington, Eva Dobbs, Kelly B. Holmes, Pam K. McCurdy, Sandra M. Schofield, Sandra Trotter and Sheryl O. Brock, all countywide; Cheryl Parker, Falkville Elementary; Gail Day, Priceville Elementary; Janet Fields, Kim Smith and Suzanne Blackman, all Danville-Neel Elementary; Kathy J. Harrity, Cotaco; Deborah Bramlett, Sparkman; and Tracy Bromirski, Eva.

•Approved Travis Bailey as countywide SPE support staff member at Brewer High School, effective Sept. 9, 2011. She is replacing Sandra Estes who resigned.

• Approved Carolyn Parker as lead bus driver at Danville Middle School, effective Aug. 15, 2011, He will also have responsibility for Danville-Neel Elementary. He is replacing Tommy Stover who resigned.

• Approved a homebound contract with Susan Bynum , effective Aug. 29, through Oct. 1, 2011, or until terminated with a doctor’s release. She will serve as a homebound instructor for an eligible student and will be paid $30 per hour with three hours of service per week. There are no other benefits attached to the contract.

• Approved a special education services contract with Angie Tomlin for hospital/homebound services, effective Aug. 23, 2011.The contract is for $30 per hour with a minimum of three hours per week.

• Approved the reassignment of Cheryl Rhoades to full-time secretary (12 months), in the Central Office Child Nutrition Department, effective Sept. 9, 2011.

• Approved an agreement with Rob Ray to serve as the AMSTI/HASP van driver for the 1011-2012 school year. He will work on an as needed basis and will be compensated at a rate of $70 per day worked.

• Accepted a notice of retirement from Charlotte Childers, a fifth grade teacher at Eva School, effective Nov. 22, 2011.

• Approved Carla Landers as a SPE support staff member at Sparkman School, effective Sept. 9, 2011. She is replacing Beth McCaghren who resigned.

• Approved a transportation agreement with Alodie Brown, effective Aug. 15, 2011, and ending the last day of the 2011-2012 school year on an as needed basis. She will transport a special needs child from home to school and back on an as-needed basis at a rate of $40 per day worked.

• Approved a transportation aide agreement with Fred Childs, effective Aug. 15, 2011, and ending the last day of the 2011-2012 school year on an as-needed basis. He will serve as an aide on a special needs bus transporting children between schools on an as needed basis at the rate of $20 per day worked.

• Approved a transportation aide agreement with Rhonda Smith, effective Aug. 15, 2011, and ending the last day of the 2011-2012 school year. He will serve as an aide on a special needs bus transporting children between schools on an as needed basis at the rate of $20 per day worked.

• Approved a transportation aide agreement with Julie Mooney, effective Aug. 15, 2011, and ending the last day of the 2011-20`12 school year on an as-needed basis. She will serve as an aide on a special needs bus transporting children between schools on an as needed basis at the rate of $20 per day worked.

• Approved a transportation agreement with Stewart Terry, effective Aug. 15, 2011, and ending the last day of the 2011-2012 school year on an as-needed basis. He will transport special needs children from home to school and back on an as needed basis at the rate of $40 per day worked.

• Approved James “Jimmy” George as a custodian (12-months) at Danville Middle School, effective Sept. 9., 2011. He is replacing Tina Jones who resigned.

• Accepted the resignation of Julianne Moore, a half-time seventh and eighth grade teacher at Falkville High School, effective Aug. 31, 2011.

• Approved application for continued salary in lieu of sick leave for Helen Whisenant, a bus driver’s aide at Sparkman School, effective for 33 days (bus) and 34 days (aide) 4-05-11through 8-12-11. She was injured on the job.

• Approved the transfer of Joel Sandlin from countywide bus side at Sparkman to Priceville Elementary School, effective Sept. 9, 2011. He is replacing Jerry Helms who retired.

• Approved Joyce Blankenship as a countywide mini-bus aide, effective Sept. 9, 2011. She is replacing Joel Sandlin who is transferring.

• Approve Carol Stanford as counselor at Priceville Elementary School, effective Sept. 9, 2011. She is replacing Debra Harvel who resigned.

• Accepted notice of retirement from Deborah Bowling, an English teacher at Priceville Junior High School, effective Nov. 30, 2011.

• Approved revision to effective date of employment for Lori Hall, counselor at Priceville High School, to Aug. 1, 2011.

• Approved temporary reassignment of Donna Gentry from 12 month custodian to 12 month head custodian at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Sept. 9., 2011, through Aug. 1, 2012. She is s filling in for Pamela Rene Brown who is on leave.

• Approved the temporary reassignment of Margaret Taylor from 10-month custodian to 12-month custodian at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Sept. 9, 2011,through Aug. 1, 2012. She is filling in for Donna Gentry.

• Approve the employment of Melanie Davis as a third grade teacher at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Aug. 1, 2012.

• Approved revision to the effective date of transfer for Natosha Banks, counselor at West Morgan High School. To Aug. 1, 2011

• Approved a catastrophic leave of absence request from Carolyn McLaughlin, a teacher at West Morgan High School, effective Sept. 14, 2011, through Nov. 22, 2011.

• Approved Lauren Murphy as an SPE teacher (must hold hearing impaired endorsement), effective Sept. 9, 2011. She is replacing Heather Stidham who transferred.

• Approved the transfer of Mandy Roberts from countywide SPE support staff member to the new position of instructional aide at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Sept. 9, 2011. This is a new position.

• Approved the transfer of Darrell Thompson from SPE teacher to 6-8 grade English teacher at West Morgan Middle School, effective Oct. 1, 2011. He is replacing Ricky Bowling who is retiring.

• Accepted the resignation of Glenn Bryant, a math teacher at West Morgan High School, effective Sept. 9, 2011.

• Approved the employment of Anna Tuggle Hodges as an English teacher at West Morgan High School, effective Sept. 9, 2011. She is replacing Matt Adams who transferred.

• Approved Elizabeth Grace Anders as translator for the Federal Programs Department, effective Sept. 9, 2011 through the end of the 2011-2012 school year on an as needed basis. This position is funded out of federal funds and is on an as needed basis up to 25 hours per week at $20 per hour.