By MICHAEL STRAND

Salina Journal

Relocation of an abandoned greenhouse from the Salina Area Technical School to Salina South High School and an initial look at the 2008-09 budget are on the agenda for the Salina School Board tonight. The board meets at 5 p.m. at the district office at 1511 Gypsum.

The 900-square-foot greenhouse at the tech school has not been used for several years. There have been discussions since 2005 about moving it to the South High campus, with plans to incorporate it into the curriculum of several different classes.

Total cost of moving the greenhouse, and installing it at its new location, is estimated at just over $35,000. More than half of that will come from federal vocational education funds.

In a memo to the school board, Ken Kennedy, director of operations, said that the cost of a similar, new greenhouse would be about $80,000. He cautioned that the greenhouse will deteriorate if not used and maintained.

Plans call for the greenhouse to be located east of the school, about halfway between the school and the baseball fields.

Board members also will get their first look at budget numbers for the coming school year, and at recommendations for spending about $2 million in new state funding.

Out of that $2 million, some $353,000 is expected to be needed for "fixed costs," such as utilities and insurance. Another $10,000 each is recommended for a new bullying prevention program required by state law and for an increase in tuition for high school students attending classes at Salina Area Technical School.

Another $437,000 of the increase will go toward special education costs.

Also being recommended is $60,000 for raises for substitute teachers.

In all, those costs and recommendations consume nearly half of the $2 million in new state funding, leaving about $1.1 million -- and that's before any raises for district employees.

Simply following the district's pay schedule, which gives pay increases for years of service and in some cases for additional education, would cost about $585,000 and mean an average pay increase of about 1.2 percent. Each additional 1 percent raise would cost about $340,000.

n Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by e-mail at mstrand@salina.com.

Total cost of moving the greenhouse, and installing it at its new location, is estimated at just over $35,000. More than half of that will come from federal vocational education funds.

In a memo to the school board, Ken Kennedy, director of operations, said that the cost of a similar, new greenhouse would be about $80,000. He cautioned that the greenhouse will deteriorate if not used and maintained.

Plans call for the greenhouse to be located east of the school, about halfway between the school and the baseball fields.

Board members also will get their first look at budget numbers for the coming school year, and at recommendations for spending about $2 million in new state funding.

Out of that $2 million, some $353,000 is expected to be needed for "fixed costs," such as utilities and insurance. Another $10,000 each is recommended for a new bullying prevention program required by state law and for an increase in tuition for high school students attending classes at Salina Area Technical School.

Another $437,000 of the increase will go toward special education costs.

Also being recommended is $60,000 for raises for substitute teachers.

In all, those costs and recommendations consume nearly half of the $2 million in new state funding, leaving about $1.1 million -- and that's before any raises for district employees.

Simply following the district's pay schedule, which gives pay increases for years of service and in some cases for additional education, would cost about $585,000 and mean an average pay increase of about 1.2 percent. Each additional 1 percent raise would cost about $340,000.

n Reporter Mike Strand can be reached at 822-1418 or by e-mail at mstrand@salina.com.