By ASHLEY AMASON
Chief Financial Officer Jim McCall updated the board on the newest numbers coming from the Capitol at the May 19 Walton County School Board (WCSB) meeting.
McCall told the board, there is a $1.1 million loss due to the tax-base decrease from $16.5 billion to $14.5 billion. However, thanks to the stimulus package, local funding increased $2.85 million, boosting projected revenues for the upcoming year to $61.5 million.
Coordinator of Facilities Mark Gardner briefed the board on bids for the new Emerald Coast Middle School, ranging from $18.2 million to $20.3 million. The contract was unanimously awarded to Elkins Contractors. Meanwhile, the current Van R. Butler Elementary and Emerald Coast Middle School received approval to acquire six new portable buildings to ease overcrowding.
The band department of the new Walton High School will be happy to know the board unanimously approved the purchase of new instruments from Playground Music in the amount of $40,460 and Art’s Music in the amount of $2,195.
On the consent agenda, the board encountered its first approval of purchase orders that exceed the newly set $10,000 limit. A collective motion passed to approve a $12,277.10 purchase from Dell.
The board’s final action was the collective approval to name the entrance road into Freeport Elementary School “Miller’s Way” in honor of Wayne Miller. Board members complimented the perfection of the name, saying, “It was Miller’s Way or the highway.”