By Staff
Alabama schools receive funding
It is well-known by now that the 3-mill district tax renewal was passed Tuesday.
Atmore area schools would have lost $297,000 if the tax was not renewed. Because of the renewal, area schools will be able to do things they have not had the funding for. The money will be used for capital maintenance, including repairs, painting, new floors and possibly new gymnasiums at two of the elementary schools. The money will also be used for sustaining teacher units.
It is important that schools have funding in order to have the proper number of teachers, projects and good facilities.
Not only was the 3-mill tax passed last week, but Alabama Gov. Bob Riley signed into law a budget on Thursday that will invest more funding into education than in the state's history.
Since the governor came into office, the state's budget for education has increased by more than $2.5 billion. The budget for the 2008 fiscal year is $6.7 billion – an increase of more than $450 million since the 2007 fiscal year's education budget.
The budget includes a seven percent pay raise for employees within the educational system. The raise will keep our great educators in the career paths they have chosen. This means the children of Atmore will have some of the most qualified teachers the state can provide.
The governor has stated that he believes the state's educational system is the strongest in history, but that it is about to become even better and stronger.