Tuesday night, the Waynesboro School Board approved the superintendent's proposed budget, which includes raises for all school employees. Next, it heads to Waynesboro City Council.
The roughly $31 million budget will give employees a 3-percent raise, but a rise in health care costs would cut into that higher paycheck. The budget also calls for 10 staff positions to be cut, but those would come from retirements and other voluntary departures.
School board member Linda Jones says Waynesboro has lost 28 teachers to higher-paying neighbors in recent years. She believes it's vital that instructors and other employees long due for raises are "not forgotten."
Superintendent Robin Crowder expressed his gratitude to the city for providing an additional $82,000 to meet their needs. Last year saw a funding feud in Waynesboro, but things are off to a smoother start this time with City Council sending a fund balance back to the schools for security projects.
The balanced budget now heads to City Council for a vote.
Reported by Tara Todd and Ken Slack.
