The Mathews School Board cut several new staff positions from its 2017 spending plan Tuesday to keep the budget in balance, but raises for employees remained intact.
The amended budget approved Tuesday takes into account less county funding than requested for fiscal year 2017.
The division expects to receive $7.45 million from the county. That is a 1.3 percent increase, or $98,489, more than the current budget. However, it is $460,138 less than the school division requested.
According to Nancy Welch, superintendent of schools, in order to fill the gap, the School Board removed the addition of a media specialist at Thomas Hunter Middle School, a reading specialist, a kindergarten teacher, two special education teacher assistants, one maintenance worker and an athletic trainer that had been included in its budget.
The division was able to keep one custodian position that will move from a 10-month to 12-month employee, a maintenance position that is changing from part time to full time, and two special education teacher assistants.
Employees are still expected to receive a pay raise of a step plus an increase of up to 2 percent for all employees.
“Everyone will receive the equivalent of a 2 percent increase,” Welch said.
The state is proposing to pay a portion of a 2 percent salary increase for teachers. The division will pay the rest, about $40,000, Welch said.
Officials are projecting that Mathews will receive about 4.2 percent more in funding from the state in the coming year and 3.6 percent more in federal funding.
The school division’s revised fiscal 2017 budget totals $13.7 million, which is a 2.5 percent increase or $341,064 more than fiscal year 2016.
Hubbard can be reached by phone at 757-298-5834.