CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Horry County’s school district is moving forward with its $682 million spending plan for next school year.
The Horry County Schools board passed the preliminary budget for the 2018-19 school year Monday night. The budget includes a three-percent pay raise for teachers and a two-percent raise for all other employees.
Most of the HCS budget was kept in tact, but one item removed would have created science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM programs for middle schools. When looking at some individual items, the board voted unanimously to remove $1,369,124 to expand STEM programs to 10 more middle schools.
Interim chair Neil James says the board isn’t opposed to expanding STEM, but the board members want to adopt a plan that would help out as many schools as possible.
“We know there’s a lot of students that request to be a part of the STEM program, but they just don’t get in,” James said. “So we hope to enlarge the offerings within all of our base high schools, and then, maybe, middle schools.”
The board also decided not to replace some furniture in school common areas. That would have cost $375,750.
A public hearing will be held on June 11, when the school board will have its final vote on the budget.
