(Image source from: ajc.com)

Atlanta:
The Atlanta school board approved $815 million general fund budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2018.

The budget received its first of two approvals on Monday by 7-1 vote though Byron Amos, Atlanta Board of education member opposed and Michelle Olympiadis refraining from the vote without explicating her reason.

In an assemblage, Byron Amos stated, “I opposed a staffing plan to abolish nearly 300 positions and create 133 positions to get rid of positions such as parent liaisons and community engagement specialists in his central Atlanta district . Of the positions to be cut, a sizable chunk come from 41 vacant positions and 67 positions at Carver High School, which starting next school year will be run by Purpose Built Schools. In 2016, the school board authorized the nonprofit charter group to manage Carver. APS pays Purpose Built to manage the school and employ the staff.”

He further said that he is hoping something will be able to straighten out before approval of the final budget.

The budget include a $12 million compensation package giving employees 1% salary increase and a step increase.

“It’s been one crazy year, and I think we are just stepping into the second crazy year with so many unknowns,” said Nancy Meister, chairwoman of the Atlanta Board of Education Budget Commission.

By Sowmya Sangam