North Callaway approves balanced budget for 2014

The North Callaway School Board approved its Fiscal Year 2014 budget with an $18,351 surplus during its regular meeting Thursday night.

The district's budget for the 2013-14 school year includes total revenues of $11.162 million and total expenditures of $11.144 million.

North Callaway's base salary of $29,500 for certified staff did not change, but the board did reverse the freeze of the district's salary schedule approved several years ago.

"That was one of our main goals when we were putting the budget together," Superintendent Bryan Thomsen said. "We got everyone back to where they should be on the schedule, and we moved them all up a step."

He said the rest of the budget was "pretty consistent from last year."

In other business, guidance counselor and A+ Coordinator Melissa Head shared some highlights from her annual report on the district's A+ program.

"One of the things I think is important is that 57 percent of the (graduating) class received this award," Head told the board, noting that more than 81 percent of the district's students are signed up for A+.

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.