The class of 2021 graduation ceremony will be on Saturday, June 12 in the Marlboro County High School gymnasium. 
It was announced Monday during a special called Marlboro County Board of Education meeting.
Board members learned the results of a survey of graduating seniors and their parents to decide when and where the ceremony would be held.
The results of 226 seniors responded with 89 percent wanting to have it on June 12 and 11 percent on July 17. For 235 parents, 90 percent for June 12 and 10 percent on  July 17.
Each graduate will receive six tickets. Two tickets can be used to enter the gym while the other four tickets can be used in overflow areas in the school such as the commons area and media center.
The change was made due to new field turf being installed at McAlpine stadium and the district unable to have the ceremony there.
In other business, board members approved 6-0 the superintendent’s administrative contracts.

Budget presentation
Chief Officer of Finance and Operations Sharon Hubbard made a budget presentation for the school year 2021-22.
The proposed 2021-22 budget is built on the district’s current student enrollment of 3,700.
“Enrollment changes may increase or decrease actual revenues. It depends on enrollment,” Hubbard said.
She also talked about the teacher step increase legislation, where the state will reimburse districts.
The district will receive funding based on numbers in PCS, which also includes fringe, which will include retirement and FICA/Social Security.
She also said there is a proposed increase in base student cost from $2,500 to $2,516. 
The 2021-22 budget is a proposed $35,518,930 draft budget with $35,341,654 in expenses.
She shared McCord’s recommendation to compensate certified staff with advanced degrees. The cost to do this would be $68,000. He felt this would help to attract and retain highly qualified staff.
Another recommendation from McCord was for all certified and non-certified staff to receive a five percent raise. The cost would be $1,398,620.
Through consensus, board members directed district officials to look at a five percent raise and ways to fund it.
Options to offset the cost of McCord’s recommendations include consolidation of positions through attrition, transfer funds from the fund balance, increase revenue, and analyze opportunities to use the $8.8 million ESSER II funding.
An alternative instead of raises could be employee bonuses. This would be for 565 employees at $1,000 each plus $43,223 for fringe (7.65 percent FICA). It would cost the district $608,223, which would equal a 2.5 percent one-time salary increase. It would leave a shortfall of $430,947.
Hubbard said the shortfall can be reduced by increased revenue, reduced number of vacancies, and freeze non-essential hires. 
The second budget workshop is on May 3. The third budget workshop and possible approval of public notice in the local newspaper for the public hearing and first reading of FY 2021-22 budget will be May 17.
A public hearing and first reading on General Fund Budget will be June 7. The second reading of the General Fund Budget is on June 14. The third reading of the General Fund Budget is on June 28.