First reading, vote on proposed Oak Ridge Schools’ budget tonight
Oakridger
The first reading and vote on the 2021-2022 budget proposal for Oak Ridge Schools is set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, at the School Administration Building at 304 New York Ave.
The public may attend the meeting and comment.
The second reading and vote to adopt the budget proposal is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 24.
The school system’s budget proposal will then be sent to City Council.
The proposed budget, presented by Oak Ridge Schools staff, is available at the school system’s website ortn.edu.
Both a presentation to the Board of Education and a memo to Oak Ridge City Council explained the proposed budget will not involve any request for local money above the amount City Council gives the school system using a set funding formula, or any increase in the city property tax rate.
Proposed schools’ budget has 1% pay hike
Oakridger
A proposed budget for Oak Ridge Schools includes a pay raise of at least 1% for all schools’ employees.
Oak Ridge Schools staff presented the proposed budget for the next school year at a special called meeting Monday night at the Robert J. Smallridge School Administration Building on New York Avenue.
“I think we have a good path going forward,” Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said at the meeting.
The total budget, including local, state and federal funds, is estimated at $77 million for fiscal year 2022.
Both the presentation and a memo to Oak Ridge City Council explain the proposed budget will not involve any request for local money above the amount City Council gives the school system using a set funding formula, or any increase in the city property tax rate.
ORPD force policies are online; no changes since August
Oakridger
The city of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Police Department has not changed its use of force policies this year in response to national controversies pertaining to the use of police force, but it has posted a list of its policies online.
The ORPD s use of force policy is available online as one of many policies available online. It can be found at http://www.oakridgetn.gov/Policepolicies/police-policy.php. The city has not updated this policy since Aug. 19, 2020, which was after the national controversy and protests surrounding Minneapolis Police Department Officer Derek Chauvin s killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. After that incident, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson encouraged the ORPD to make updates to some of its policies. Also, some Oak Ridge City Council members encouraged the police department to start posting its policies to its website, which it has since done.
Oak Ridge Today
Posted at
The City of Oak Ridge wants to buy three drones for the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department.
The drones could minimize risks to emergency responders, according to a city memo. Drones could help officers and firefighters perform dangerous tasks such as responding to reports of armed people and other imminent threats, and evaluating fires and hazardous material incidents, the city said. Drones could also help with searches for lost people, which are often impeded by dense vegetation or delayed while waiting for all-terrain vehicles or boats.
“A drone can perform these tasks without delay and without placing responders at risk,” the memo said.
May 10 Gov’t Meetings
School Board
The Board of Education will have a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Robert J. Smallridge School Administration Building, New York Avenue.
Council
Zoning
School Board
The Oak Ridge Board of Education will have a work session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Robert J. Smallridge School Administration Building.
Planning
The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission Business Work Session will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Municipal Building Training Room.
Parks
The Recreation and Parks Advisory Board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Civic Center Social Room.
ANDERSON. COUNTY