NoCal district passes budget, unfreezes teachers' salaries

After having to freeze teachers' salaries due to budget constraints last school year, the North Callaway Board of Education members were pleased to pass the 2011-12 budget that allows for pay increases again.

Spending several hours in discussion Thursday night in a special budget session, school board members ended up passing a balanced budget that met with their approval. Dan McMurtry, board president, said he was excited with the outcome of the meeting. He said the district would not have to lay off any teachers and could afford to give staff their scheduled raises.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.