The Cherokee County Board of Education got preliminary assessment of the proposed 2016-2017 school district budget at last week’s meeting.
Superintendent Brian Hightower told board members the budget being worked up for presentation in May will focus on reducing class size, keeping employee pay and benefits competitive, shoring up district financial reserves and improving instructional resources.
Hightower said the district could use $2.3 million of a proposed $7 million reduction in state austerity budget cuts to lower class size to a range of 20.5 students per kindergarten class and 29.5 for grades 9 through 12.
The superintendent also said a longevity step increase plan was being weighed that would provide an average 2.5 percent salary bump for all employees.
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