Courtesy photo
Edmee CR Hasler
Contributing writer
The Salem City School Board officially approved the Fiscal Year 2025 balanced budgets, which encompass the School Fund, Grant Fund and Cafeteria Fund. The approval was made during the board’s June 11 meeting. The total budget amounts to $61,008,069, distributed as follows: the School Fund budget stands at $54,500,420, the Grant Fund budget at $4,001,953 and the Cafeteria Fund budget at $2,505,696.
The approved budget includes several significant allocations:
- Compensation increases: $1,505,495 has been allocated for staff compensation, ensuring a 4% salary increase.
- Technology and textbook funding: There is increased funding for technology infrastructure, software licensing needs and textbook adoption.
- Staffing needs: Additional positions will be created based on the division’s requirements.
- Health insurance: A 2.5% increase in health insurance rates has been accounted for.
- Grants: The budget anticipates grant awards and carryover amounts for various division grants.
- Lunch prices: A preliminary 10 cents increase in lunch prices is projected, pending final determination from the Federal government’s calculator tool.
In addition, the city of Salem has approved its FY 2025 budget, which includes a local appropriation increase of $885,000 dedicated to covering the cost of the 4% raise for all school staff. This approval was crucial for balancing the school budget, which had been temporarily unbalanced pending confirmation of the city’s support, officials said. The city council’s approval on May 28 provided the necessary certainty to finalize the budget.
The state has also provided updates that do not impact the adopted budget. Notably, the governor approved a budget amendment that includes funding for a 3% raise for staff, which aligns with the proactive measures taken in the preliminary budget.
Overall, the Salem City School Board’s budget approval reflects a commitment to enhancing staff compensation, advancing technology infrastructure and meeting the evolving needs of the school division, officials said.
The board also recognized student Josephine Eaton for her accomplishments at the 2024 Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair and her automatic qualification for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Josephine Eaton has had a remarkable journey in the world of science fairs this year. Her ascent began with a First Place victory at the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School Project Forum in early February. This impressive win took her to even greater heights when she secured first place and a grand award at the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair (VSSEF), held at Old Dominion University on April 12-13. At VSSEF, Josephine triumphed in the Plant Sciences category and was distinguished as one of the prestigious Grand Award winners.
Her performance at VSSEF earned her a coveted spot at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, on May 11-17. During this international event, Eaton not only presented her groundbreaking project, titled “The Effectiveness of Glycine max on Microplastic Removal from Soil,” but also embraced a week filled with opportunities to expand her knowledge, network with peers from around the globe and engage in unique experiences.
Eaton’s achievements are particularly significant as she is only the fourth student from Salem to advance to this prestigious level in nearly four decades.
