The Poplar Bluff R-1 School Board approved the district budget for fiscal year 2023 at their June meeting Thursday night.
The budget projects total expenses of $78.9 million dollars, with salaries comprising $49.3 million and capital expenditures at $14.6 million.
Details of the budget were discussed in a workshop meeting held last week.
Other items presented at that workshop were approved at the regular meeting, including Manual and Handbook revisions for all district school locations, Board of Education goals, the District Mission Statement, Graphic and Trademark guidelines and the 2022-23 board meeting schedule.
The board approved an amendment to the Chartwell’s Food Service contract to reflect meal pricing for the upcoming school year.
Pre-K through third grade will be free at all schools, while all other grades will be $1.70 for breakfast and $2.45 for lunch, which reflects no price increase.
Adult meals will increase by five cents, with adult breakfast priced at $1.90 and adult lunch going up to $3.30.
The board also approved a Resolution Fund Transfer of $2.28 million and a Transportation Transfer of $336,818, which are allowed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to cover capital expenses for FY 23.
Acting upon a recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill, the board approved contract modifications for Mark Twain School, reducing the principal’s contract to 220 days and compensating the attendance officer for an additional 20 days of work.
The board also approved the creation of a new position of Assistant Network Administrator for the IT department. Dr. Dill stated the position was necessary given the volume of work the IT department does to keep school operations running, particularly in the area of network security.
The board also approved the enrollment of one exchange student for the upcoming school year, who will be coming to Poplar Bluff from Italy.