By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer | jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
Woodruff School Board Trustees gave the go-ahead for a new sound system to blare out the calls on football Fridays at W.L. Varner Stadium and heard a preliminary presentation on the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year.
Trustees voted unanimously to approve $68,000 for the purchase and installation of the new sound system, which primarily consists of new speakers on the scoreboard. Harrison Production Services was granted the contract.
Director of Facilities Clark Simpkins told the board that seven companies picked up bid packets, but only Harrison submitted a final bid. He added that the district has used Harrison’s services for other audio-visual projects in the district in the past and had good experiences with them. The final contract price was below the district’s expectations for the project.
In other business, Chris Benfield, assistant superintendent of business and finance, provided the first preliminary summary of the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget is expected to increase approximately 7.9 percent to just shy of $37 million.
Benfield explained that the majority of the increase will come from salaries and benefits, and increasing insurance rates. State legislators approved a pay increase for teachers of $1,500 for each pay cell, which equates to approximately a 3.5 percent increase. District officials will also award all other employees the same 3.5 percent increase.
Benfield said that insurance rates for the district will increase 4.6 percent starting on January 1. The district will also have an added $140,000 per year for the R.D. Anderson expansion project. The final budget will be presented to the board in June for approval.
Board members also approved an item concerning courses for the 2025-2026 school year. The item is considered annually to approve various courses that are not a part of the state’s official curriculum. The local school must approve those courses to allow them to be offered.
In school reports:
Woodruff Primary School reported that students raised nearly $9,000 in the St. Jude Children’s Hospital Walk-A-Thon.
Woodruff Elementary School reported that students Thomas Akins, Harper Blighton, Amia Jeter, Ladson Knighten, Savannah Mosley, Yabrielis Ramos Torres, Lacie Redd, and Conley Williams were named WE Singers for 2025-2026. Max Sanchez, Xeng Vang, Sophia Smith, Gracie Cochran, Michaela Glenn, Penelope Simpson, Brooke Crain, and Valerie Brock were named gifted art members.
Author: Tracy Sanders
