During their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, July 12, the Haralson County Board of Education approved a tentative budget to be advertised to the public and spending resolution to carry the school system through the month of August until the Fiscal Year 2013 budget can be approved.

The spending resolution will allow the board to continue the business of the school system until the final budget is approved.

The board’s preliminary budget shows total revenue coming in at $28,498,220, with expenditures at $28,445,342. This will leave a surplus of $52,878. The budget will be advertised in the legal organ for the county, the Gateway-Beacon, for the public’s perusal prior to its passage.

In other news, the board heard updates from Facilities Manager Steve Wells on several Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) projects being conducted at the various schools across the county.

At Buchanan Elementary School and West Haralson Elementary School, Wells reported that Bright Electric had completed lighting upgrades in both gyms. Wells reported that he had received bids on the cost of installing heaters but not fans in the gyms. The board approved the purchase and installation of fans and heaters for both gyms, not to exceed $19,000.

The board also approved a motion approving a maximum budget of $20,000 to improve the bathrooms near the entrance to WHES. Wells said most of the work could be done in-house to cut down on costs.

A motion was also approved to have the entrance to the band practice field at Haralson County High School moved to the driveway-side of the field during paving upgrades at the school. The board has already awarded the paving contract to A&S Paving. The company will be paving the bus loop and parking lot at the Freshman Academy, which is slated for completion before the first day of school.

Wells also presented the board with updated pricing for electrical and drainage improvements at the HCHS track and field. According to Wells, the track can be levelled by a local company for no more than $10,000. However, Wells said replacing the old drainage system would require ripping up the entire football field. Therefore, he suggested improving the system they currently have at a cost of no more than $12,000. The board approved both motions.

Wells also updated the board on the need to relocate the playgrounds at Buchanan Primary and Buchanan Elementary Schools and to improve the parking lots at BES and HCMS. The board approved a motion to move the BPS playground at a cost of $10,000. Action was held on the other projects until Wells could obtain estimates for costs of the work.

HCHS Athletic Director Lisa Warren gave the school board an update on the possibility of adding soccer to the school’s sports offerings. According to Warren, implementing boys and girls soccer teams at the high school would cost between $20,100 and $22,100. She also said there were not enough students interested in the sport when they presented information at the school. Each team would need 25 players, and only 16 boys and 12 girls expressed interest. There’s not an option for co-ed soccer teams in high-school-level play.

HCMS Athletic Director Brian Warren updated the board on the cost to implement a wrestling team at the middle school. Warren reported that a wrestling mats could run the school system as much as $23,364 for two new mats. He said wrestling would bring a revenue boost for the system, especially if it hosted wrestling tournaments; however, Warren said busing students to a practice location may be an issue.

The soccer teams and wrestling team items were tabled until the August meeting.

The next regularly scheduled Haralson County Board of Education meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 9.