Budget increase for DeKalb schools

The DeKalb County school board voted unanimously Monday for a tentative $800.1 million operating budget in the next school year.

The $44 million increase over the current-year budget will allow DeKalb to implement a full 180 day academic calendar in the 2014-15 school year, instead of the 177 days in the year just ended. The district will also be able to hire 100 new teachers and six school officers, among others.

The 2015 budget, which starts in July, is nearly a 6 percent increase over 2014. The final vote is June 25.