LSS board OKs benefits, discusses budget

At the May 22 meeting, the Lakeland School System (LSS) board approved an employee benefits package and discussed budget amendments.

Benefits

The board reviewed the employee benefits package before approving the superintendent’s motion for the executive committee to execute contracts. The package is better coverage than Shelby County teachers currently receive, and it’s at a lower cost, the board agreed.

The benefits package includes Aetna health insurance, Davis Vision coverage, and MetLife for dental as well as for basic and supplemental life insurance. Hospitals included in the coverage are the Baptist system as well as Saint Francis and LeBonheur.

Budget

The board also discussed pending amendments to the school budget, including a reserve amount predicted to be around $2,000. Lakeland’s school superintendent, Dr. Ted Horrell, said he learned at a fiscal workshop that the budget needs to be submitted “zeroed out.” He reallocated those funds and made one correction, planning to submit the revisions for approval at the May 22 meeting. However, immediately before the board meeting, he learned that the district will get a new student whose needs will require additional staffing and equipment. The amended budget will be reviewed at the June 3 school board meeting.

The next step after that will be presenting the revised budget to the city board for approval. June 5 is the next city board work session, and June 12 will be their next business meeting; both meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. at Lakeland City Hall.