Public

education in Fayette County may cost an estimated

$5.5 million more in 2000 than it has in 1999.

Among

factors bumping up costs to an estimated $114

million are a 4 percent pay raise for the school

system's 1,602 workers, plus 120 new positions,

start-up costs at the Starr's Mill complex and

$150,000 more to pay off a 1994 bond issue and

Starr's Mill stadium.

Finance

director Jim Stephens briefed the board on the

early projections Monday night, estimating new

revenues to be about $6.2 million with

expenditures increasing $5.2 million. He said

personnel and benefits take up 85 percent of the

total budget, "a pretty common figure,"

Stephens said, comparing it to other school

districts.

Additional

costs include additions and renovations at Flat

Rock Middle and North Fayette Elementary schools

totalling $1.8 million, and other renovations in

high school vocational departments. With an

estimated end-of-the-year balance of $6.5

million, Stephens said the board's "ray of

hope" would be another $3 million in revenue

from the local tax digest. "This is based on

a 5- to 6-percent digest growth," he

predicted.

Based

on early projections, school officials anticipate

more than 1,000 new students in the school system

next fall, with the biggest growth, an estimated

40 percent, at Kedron Elementary and Starr's Mill

High School, which is adding its senior year

classes. Currently, the district's enrollment is

18,992 students.

School

district department heads came one by one before

the board to review their wants and needs for the

coming year. Wayne Robinson, director of

secondary operations, said he is looking at a

system to issue color-coded picture

identification badges for all school district

personnel. One of the goals of having personnel

from teachers and administrators to bus drivers

and custodians wearing the badges is an effort to

provide a safe environment for students and

teachers, Robinson said.

"I

think the ID badge system is a good one,"

added Debbie Condon, school board chairman. The

following year, Robinson said he hopes to have

picture ID's for all students.

The

board is also looking at hiring a youth

apprenticeship coordinator, to be paid for with a

$50,000 grant spread over three years and local

matching funds.

According

to board member Greg Powers, Fayette County is

the only school system in the state without a

coordinator.

"This

would bolster our link with the community,"

said Dr. John DeCotis, superintendent of schools.

Other

items discussed in the budget workshop included a

possible 10 cent increase on school lunches, the

purchase of 40 additional surveillance cameras

for school buses, improving classroom technology

and computer capabilities by installing new

fiberoptic cabling in older schools and

increasing the selection of classes in the

community school program. The next budget

workshop is scheduled for May 10 at 7:30 p.m. at

the Board of Education office.

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