SCHOOL BOARD WRAPUP

The following is from the June 26 meeting of the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education.

Annual budget approved

The board approved the final 2007-08 district budget, following no public comment and lengthy discussions and presentations at the previous board meeting.

Next year’s projected revenues of roughly $36 million are comparable to the 2006-07 estimated revenue.

The principal revenue source is property taxes, which comprise about 83% of total revenues, followed by local, state and federal taxes and lottery earnings.

Expenditures were estimated to be $33.9 million last year, and will be at about $34.6 million next year.

Certificated salaries totaled 42% of expenditures, followed by employee benefits, classified employee salaries, operating expenses, books and supplies, capital reserves, and capital outlay.

Gelber honored for community service

Board member Theresa O’Hare honored Joe Gelber with the Community Volunteer Award for creating the Brighter Stars events, which originally raised money for fire victims and later became the basis for a nearly half-million-dollar fund, the interest from which goes toward annual teacher grants.

Salary, health negotiations finalized

The board approved salary and health benefits increases for classified and certificated non-represented employees “” the district’s third and final bargaining unit “” with no discussion.

The Laguna Beach Unified Faculty Association and California School Employees Association contracts had been approved at previous meetings.

“” Candice Baker