The Atlanta school board this week set budget goals of eliminating furlough days, giving employees a pay raise, handing schools more autonomy and spending more money on direct instruction.

The city Board of Education began work Monday on the estimated $600 million general fund budget for the 2014-2015 school year, which board members hope is completed by April 14.

The budget would prioritize teacher and staff quality, and finalizing it before summer would give the school system time to hire teachers when they’re looking for jobs.