Bronaugh R-7 board OK's budget, hires teachers

Bronaugh School Board members have adopted the R-7 District's 2011-'12 budget and hired five new teachers.

Convening Monday, the panel OK'd a spending plan for $2.1 million, the same amount as the current budget, and set a hearing on the property tax rate of $3.74 per $100 valuation for 6:30 p.m., Aug. 11.

Superintendent Patricia Phillips said Thursday that the budget is subject to funding changes by the state.

Phillips said the board kept expenditures at the same level despite having to increase transportation expenditures from $110,000 to $120,000 by making an adjustment in building maintenance.

"Our buildings are in really good condition and short of a major disaster, they should stay in good shape," she said.

Phillips explained that the district has a high school-junior high building, an elementary school, a vocational agriculture building, a home economics instructional center and two storage facilities.

She said the board maintained all salary steps for teachers and enacted a 3-percent raise for classified and non-certified staff members.

The panel accepted recommendations by Phillips and Principal Bryan McArthur to hire new third grade teacher Whitney Hinkle, a Vernon County native who just graduated from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin; fourth grade instructor Kylie Kitsmiller, a MidAmerica Nazarene University graduate from Kansas City; high school special education teacher Debbi Scotten of Nevada; Special Education Director Cindy York of Fort Osage; and high school English instructor Shelley McGrath of Osceola.

Annette Winningham of Nevada was employed as high school secretary.

In all, the district has 25 certified teachers, Phillips said.