The Marlboro County Board of Education approved FY 2023 General fund budget 7-0 at a special called meeting on June 20.

The proposed general fund revenues are $37,096,268 and proposed general fund expenditures are $41,085,207.

This is a 6% increase in the FY 2022 general fund budget. Board members Janice Bright and Danny Driggers were not present at the meeting.

Chief Financial Officer Sharon Hubbard said the conference committee of State, House, and Senate decided to raise each cell in the Statewide Teacher Minimum Salary Schedule by $4,000. This will make a beginning teacher’s salary with a bachelor’s degree $40,000.

In the budget, board members approved a $2,000 pay increase for certified staff. To address the budget shortfall, monies from the fund balance has been projected for use.

The FY 2o23 budget will also give a step increase and a 2% raise to employees.

An additional 3% salary increase for custodians, maintenance workers, food service, teacher assistants, and some administrative support staff (administrative specialist 7.0 and 7.5 salary scales.) is included in the budget.

The general fund budget will be effective July 1.

In other business, board members approved three certified hires.

Also, the board asked Eastside Preservation Alumni Association to meet with county officials to come up with the best use of the Eastside School property.

A discussion was held on the increased student population at Bennettsville Primary School.

The school has a capacity of 750 students and is approaching it.

Interim Superintendent Donald Andrews presented a proposal for purchasing a four-classroom modular unit.

The cost would be $950,000 for a new unit and $850,000 for a used unit.

Board Chairman Jackie Branch wanted to know the enrollment at Bennettsville Primary for the last five years to see if this was a trend and not a one-year increase.

The third grade was previously at Bennettsville Intermediate but was moved to BPS.

Officials considered moving third grade back to BIS but two wings there were torn down but not replaced. This is why the students were at BPS.

Board members felt they needed more information and to see how much it would cost to possibly build an addition at BPS.

Interim Superintendent Donald Andrews said he would bring back information to the board at the July meeting.