Board approves $40 million budget

By By Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
The Madison City Schools Board of Education has approved a $40 million budget for its upcoming 2002-2003 school year and a five-year capital plan that includes a new elementary school, high school, stadium and central office.
With enrollment numbers up this year from the 2001-2002 term, the new budget will allow the system to hire additional teachers, counselors and bus drivers. The budget will also allow Bob Jones High School to establish a ROTC program, distance learning labs for staff development and new technology systemwide.
Under the capital plan, an addition to Discovery Middle School will be built, along with a new elementary school, high school, central office and a stadium. The school board is eyeing property behind the Spencer Square shopping center on Madison Boulevard at Celtic Drive to build the stadium on, along with a new central office.
While plans are under way to build an addition to Discovery Middle School, the board has approved a $570,000 bid to build a new band room. Approximately $48,850 has been approved to replace the gymnasium floor at West Madison Elementary School and eight new surveillance cameras for Bob Jones High School at a cost of $26,000.