School budget and communication top board's agenda

Wrangell Public School District unveiled its first draft for next year’s operating budget at its board’s Monday evening meeting.

Overall, the school district’s budget is projected to be 2.3 percent higher than the FY17 revised budget, coming in at $5,953,642. As with other city departments, the new fiscal year is slated to begin July 1.

Accounting for the rise, step-and-column increases are anticipated to raise the teacher and support salaries budget by about $48,000, with another $96,000 increase in payroll benefits associated with a 10-percent health care cost increase. The superintendent an...