School board approves working budget, additional SRO

The Christian County School Board approved the 2018-19 working budget at Thursday’s meeting and approved designation of a new school resource officer for the district’s elementary schools.

Director of Business Jessica Darnell says little has changed about the total amount of the budget—$83.4 million—from the tentative budget that was approved in May. She says they did have an increase in carry forward money and included the revenue generated by the property tax increase, which they hope to use to reinstate the teachers’ salary increase next school year.

They did receive an increase in safe schools funding from the state, which will be used to provide another school resource officer from the Christian County Sheriff’s Department for the district. Chief Operations Officer Brad Hawkins says that officer will help cover the elementary schools, bringing that number up to two.

At the meeting, Virginia Poland and Jack Poland spoke during public comments in support of POST, a school safety initiative designed to mitigate possible active shooter threats in schools, and urged the board to consider adopting it.

South Christian Elementary School Student James “Hunter” Strader was recognized as the Student of the Month.