Shelby County BOE approves $281.6 million budget

Board also hears from Chelsea High principal about athletic facilities proposal

By KATIE MCDOWELL / Lifestyles Editor

The Shelby County Board of Education approved an approximately $281.6 million budget for fiscal year 2012 during its Sept. 15 board meeting.

Gary McCombs, assistant superintendent of finance, said the budget was “conservative,” and he felt that it would meet the needs of the school system.

“I think the whole Shelby County School System emphasizes quality instruction and I feel like we will continue to do that even during economic times that are challenging,” he said.

The board oversees 38 school sites within the county. Student enrollment for the 2011-2012 year is at 28,171 students and the school system employs 3,523 staff.

The three largest schools in the county are Oak Mountain High School with 1,683 students, Pelham High School with 1,672 students and Thompson High School with 1,769 students. Each of the schools has a budget of more than $11 million.

In other business, the board also heard a proposal from Chelsea High School principal Jay Peoples to secure a $300,000 loan to improve the school’s athletic facilities.

Peoples said the school has had “explosive growth” in recent years, increasing from 730 students to more than 1,000.

“Let me assure you we’re not talking about wants, we’re talking about needs,” he said. “We’ve got pressing needs for every sport.”

Peoples said the school can secure a $300,000 loan with a fixed interest rate of 4.69 percent over 15 years.

CHS has also received donations from various groups, including $25,000 in local money, $15,000 from the City of Chelsea and a $50,000 matching grant from Shelby County Commission.

Peoples said the loan would be paid with $100 annual donations from student-athlete families. He said the school used annual donations from student-athlete families to pay off a 2001 loan for an athletics facilities upgrade and the process worked well.

“I assure you nobody is going to be excluded based on an inability, or even an unwillingness, to pay,” he said.

Peoples hopes the money will be used to make a variety of improvements to the school’s athletic facilities, including a small locker room and additional restroom facility at the far end of the complex, covered dugouts and additional practice field for soccer, covered hitting facilities for softball and baseball, floor refurbishing and PA upgrade for the gymnasium and new mats for the wrestling team.

The board will discuss the proposal before voting on it at a future meeting.

The board will have a called meeting Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. at central office in Columbiana. Its next regular meeting is Oct. 20 at 6 p.m.

SportsPlus

280 Main Story

Oak Mountain reaches super regionals with runner-up finish

Montevallo

Montevallo survives Jemison rally to seal first 5A super regionals berth

280 Main Story

Community honors seven historical figures during inaugural Shelby County Hall of Fame

280 Main Story

Shelby County Football Show: Week 9

280 Main Story

Week 9 Predictions: Thompson and Hoover square off for region title plus 10 other games

280 Main Story

Briarwood outduels Sylacauga on road to claim area title

Lifestyles

Post Malone performs possible final concert at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre after 39 seasons

Business

Jack’s opens Pelham location

Calera

Man arrested for DUI, assault after leaving the scene of Calera accident

Alabaster Main Story

Alabaster denies rezoning for property near Saddle Lake Farms subdivision

280 Main Story

Thompson, Spain Park hold, Vincent, Chelsea fall in Week 8 football rankings

280 Main Story

Cross Country roundup: Helena’s Aldrie Ridgon wins Leeds Invite, Spain Park, Pelham shine in Decatur

Alabaster Main Story

Work to begin on site of Alabaster’s new recreation center, library

News

Pelham Councilmember Coram to seek reelection

Calera

Calera departments gather for National Night Out

Columbiana

Residents enjoy wine, music at third annual Discover Shelby Fest

News

Pelham finishes regular season with three wins at Shrimpfest

280 Reporter

Briarwood reaches Shrimpfest Gold Bracket in three-win weekend

News

Thompson sweeps Southside-Gadsden, Cullman in quad match at Muscle Shoals

News

Birmingham Bulls host premiere of Back to Birmingham docuseries at Lyric Theatre

280 Main Story

Local bands take home trophies after success at the Lake Martin Invitational

280 Main Story

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office announces promotions

Alabaster Main Story

Siluria Baptist Church to host fall festival

News

Birmingham Bulls to retire Jamey Hicks’ number at season opener on Oct. 18