Morgan County School system operations will be level funded in 2014-15 based on figures Chief Financial Officer John Godwin shared with school board members at a regular meeting Thursday night.

Godwin said he expects revenues to reach $75 million while expenditures are budgeted at $97 million. The difference represents borrowed money for the new Priceville High School, which is under construction and scheduled for completion in June 2015.

State and local revenues combined are up $853,000 while federal funds dropped $81,000.  Of state funds, $400,000 will be spent to offset an increase in insurance premiums for employees.

Godwin pointed out that state and federal funds continue to decline while local funding has risen by about 3%.

“Things look comfortable today,” Godwin said, “but they also looked comfortable in 2008 before they declined for three years and our fund balance dipped to $1.06 million.”

He pointed out that the fund balance currently is $14.7 million, the equivalent of three months of operating expenses.

“We have to be wary of hard times and not over-inflate the budget,” he stated. “We need to continue to be cautious in our spending habits.”

The budget will receive a second and final final review before it is introduced for passage in September.

The board acted on other matters as follows:

•Accepted low bids from Wilkes Tire and Battery, Decatur for batteries of all sizes

•Accepted low bids from W.H. Thomas Oil Co. lubricants, gasoline and diesel fuel

•Accepted a $62,889.40 bid from Peck-Glasgow Agency for vehicle insurance

•Accepted a low bid of $97,507.15 from Halsey Food Service for food items and food processing supplies for the Morgan County Child Nutrition Program

•Accepted a lob of $65,614.62 from Earthgrains/Sara Lee Bakery for bread service for the Morgan County Child Nutrition Program

•Accepted a low bid of $49,384 from BRESCO for serving lines for the Child Nutrition Program at Lacey’s Spring School

•Approved a contracts for services with Keri McCutcheon, Wendy Harkins and Lynn Rutledge to provide transportation for eligible students from home to school and back each day the students attend school, beginning Aug.

•Approved an agreement between Morgan County Schools and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department to provide school resource officers in Morgan County Schools for one year, beginning August 1.

•Approved student waiver, indemnity and release agreement relating to student travel to the campus classes and/or other activities provided at Brewer High School‘s Career and Technical facility, effective July 1

•Approved contract for services with Lee Cark to serve as AMSTI driver to assigned schools, effective Aug. 12, 2014, through June 30, 2015, as needed.

•Approved an agreement between Morgan County Schools and Falkville Police Department to provide one school resource officer for Morgan County Schools for one year from Aug. 1, 2014, to July 31, 2015

Approved board policy changes as follows:

JBCA-school admissions

•JBCBB-education of homeless youth and children

•IL-duty of sex offender to notify school of presence

.Personnel items recommended by Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. and acted on by the board are listed as follows:

•Approved the promotion of Greg Serrett as head custodian at Lacey’s Spring School, effective July 31. He is replacing Terry Speegle who transferred.

•Accepted the resignation of Sarah Mize, math teacher at West Morgan High

•Accepted the resignation of Brent Vest as assistant football coach at Danville High School, effective Aug. 7

•Approved the employment of Meagan Thompson as a certified teacher (fourth grade) at West Morgan Elementary School, effective Aug. 15. She is replacing Kim Terry who transferred

•Approved the employment of Renee Tanner Hardin as a bus driver at Priceville Elementary-countywide, effective Aug. 15. She is replacing Joe Sandlin who resigned

•Approved the employment of Kimberly O’Shields as a speech language pathologist countywide, effective Aug. 15. She is replacing Johnetta Turney who resigned

•Approved the within school reassignment of Paula Owens from fifth grade science teacher to fourth and fifth grade science teacher at Falkville Elementary School,  effective for the 2014-2015 school year

•Appoved the employment of Jonathan D. Schuster as a certified English teacher at West Morgan Middle/High School, effective Aug. 15. He is replacing Stacy Hughes who transferred

•Approved Terry Speegle, maintenance worker at the central office, as a certified worker for Morgan County Schools

•Approved Union Hill School’s listing of After School Program workers and pay rates as follows: Melissa Wright, $15 per hour; Laurie Smith, $15 per hour; and Patti Ozbolt, $15 per hour

•Approved maternity/family leave request from Mindy Pflueger m teacher at Sparkman School, effective Aug. 7 through Oct. 22.

•Approved the employment of Terri Hardin as bus aide at Sparkman (countywide), effective Aug. 15 He is replacing Joe Rogers who resigned.

•Accepted the resignation of Heather Vest as cheerleading sponsor at Danville High School, effective Aug. 8

•Accepted notice of retirement form Deborah Gillon, food production teacher at Brewer High School, effective at the conclusion of the 2014- 2015 school year.

•Approved school to school transfer of Scott Ellis from cooperative education coordinator one-half time at Danville High School and one-half time at Falkville High School to countywide cooperative education coordinator, effective for the 2014-2-015 school year.

•Approved school-to-school transfer of Monica Doherty from co-op at Brewer, Priceville and West Morgan High Schools to part-/time certified teacher/Co-Op Education, countywide, effective for the 2014-2015 school year.

•Approved the employment of Haley Roberts as a certified teacher in math at West Morgan High School, effective Aug. 15. She is replacing Sarah Mize who resigned.

•Approved the transfer of Rachelle Tuck from office aide to secretary/bookkeeper at Danville Middle School, effective Aug. 15 She is replacing Amanda George who resigned.

•Approved the employment of Will Weaver as a special education aide at Brewer-countywide Effective Aug. 15

•Approved the employment of Michael Glenn Jones as a custodian at Priceville High School, effective Aug. 15 He is replacing Greg Serrett who is recommended for promotion.