By KATIE MCDOWELL/Lifestyles Editor

The Shelby County Board of Education approved the 2012-2013 budget at its Sept. 6 meeting.

The approved budget projects expenditures of $303 million and revenues of $266 million. The school system will begin the fiscal year with an $83 million fund balance and end with $48 million.

“We’re in a strong position as a board,” said Gary McCombs, assistant superintendent of finance. “We look forward to the fiscal year 2013. We feel like we have revenues and expenses that have been budgeted conservatively.”

Expenditures include approximately $139 million for instructional services, $41 million for instructional support services, $20 million for operations and maintenance and $3.9 million for general administrative services.

The $3.9 million dedicated to general administrative services is about 1 percent of the budget.

“That 1 percent … is the lowest or one of the lowest in the state,” Superintendent Randy Fuller said.

In other business, Fuller said enrollment reached 28,732 this week.

“With that enrollment comes transportation issues,” he said, adding that the central office has heard from many parents concerned about traffic in school drop-off and pick-up lines. “We’re working with local authorities and trying to figure out a way to make it better.”

The board also:

• Approved Ann-Marie Sturdivant as assistant principal of Chelsea Middle School.
• Approved Roxanna Cazer-Traylor as the school system’s at-risk program developer.
• Approved a $50,000 contract for Quality Architectural Metal and Roofing to complete a partial reproofing of Valley Intermediate.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at the central office in Columbiana.