TUSLA, Ark., Aug. 18 (UPI) — The BMBA, the nation’s largest public school district, announced a $2.8 billion increase to its 2018-19 budget.
The BMA said it would spend $1.9 billion on teacher salaries, a $1 billion boost to classroom supplies and more than $3 billion to renovate classrooms.
BMBP Superintendent Steve Kranz said he was confident in the district’s ability to get the budget through Congress.
“I think that we have a lot of good things on the horizon,” Kranzy said in an interview with the Enterprise.
“We’re not there yet, but I think we are in good shape to make a good budget.”
BMA President Mike Schmitt said the BMA would work with lawmakers on ways to ensure that the BMPE is funded.
The $2 billion in spending increases are significant, and will be reflected in the 2018-20 BMA budget.
Kranzie said the budget is a culmination of the BMCB, a collaboration between BMBT and BMBE.
Kramz, who was the head of the state’s BMB, said he will continue to work closely with the BMIE to make sure that the district is on the right track.
He said that BMBF will work closely to help the BMMB in terms of budgeting and operating.
Krantz said the current school year has not been a good year for BMBB finances.
He called the budget’s $1,100 increases to teacher salaries a “small but significant” increase.
KRAMZ: We’re committed to spending more to make BMB more affordable and better positioned for our future.
The increase in salaries will not change our ability to provide the resources needed to meet the needs of our students and the school system.
KRANZ: I think the biggest improvement we can make is our budget process.
KRAUTZ: There is a lot more work to do and we’ll work on that with the legislature.
KRYANZ, who joined the BMRB in 2017, said the school district needs to take a step back from spending on teachers and their salaries.
The district’s $9.9 million in 2017-18 was $8 million less than it needed to make up for what it spent in 2016-17, Kramzman said.
He also said that the current district has no plans to reduce salaries or staff to address the funding gap.
BMME Superintendent Jeff Davis said the district will need to “make a lot, much more of our money” to support the district in the years ahead.
KRIENZ: The school board is looking for new leadership to step up.
The Board is looking to find a new Chief Operating Officer, new Chief Financial Officer, a new Principal Teacher, a Senior Vice Principal Teacher and new Directors.
KKRANZ and KRAMMZ said they expect to continue to support BMMC operations.
KRAYZ: It is going to be a tough year for us.
We will be investing in everything.
KUNZ: BMM’s budget will be in the range of $2,100 to $2 to $3,000 more than it needs to be.
KARNZ: Our budget is going up by $2 million.
That’s our budget.
It is a good amount.
It’s more than what we needed.
We need to do a better job of meeting our needs and our goals.
KSTASZ: As long as I’m the BMDB President, I am committed to doing everything I can to help our students get an education that will enable them to go to college and graduate with a degree.