For the 2013–2014 school year, the state has budgeted $300 for student materials, $31.35 per student for textbooks and $6,000 for fleet renewal.

For the Chilton County School System, the State Department of Education has budgeted a total of 7,597.25 for average daily membership, about 427 teacher units, 11 principal units, 11 assistant principal units, about 17 counselor units, 11 library/media units, about two career tech director units and 1 career tech counselor unit.

County resident Denise Evans voiced concerns to the board at the hearing about the number of teacher units in the school system decreasing.

Evans asked the board whether having volunteer teachers, possibly retired teachers, on certain days would be an option to balance the teacher-student ratio.

Hayden said the board could consider it and recommended Evans contact Chilton County Retired Educators to gauge members’ interest in the proposition of volunteer teaching.

“To meet our expenses and to meet our budget, we try to be as conservative as we can,” Yeargan said. “We wanted to be conservative for 12 months because you never know what could happen.”

In September 2012, the board approved a proposed budget of $77 million for the 2012–2013 fiscal year to be submitted to the state for approval.

Yeargan had projected to end the year with about $4.5 million in reserve, including the mandatory $4 million monthly reserve as required by the state.

The board exceeded state requirements in the 2012–2013 fiscal year by maintaining more than $4 million in reserve funds.

“We have maintained our balance with the mandatory reserve for about three years now,” Yeargan said.

The second public hearing will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Office.

The proposed 2013–2014 budget will be presented to the board for approval at the second hearing.