HERMANN — After being flush with cash the past couple years, thanks to extra state and federal government dollars prompted by the COVID pandemic, Gasconade County R-1 School District administrators are returning to a more-normal financial footing.

Last week, the R-1 Board of Directors approved a 2023-24 operating budget that, if the projections hold up, would have a year-end balance of about $331,000 — about $1 million less than officials had projected as year-end balance for the just-ended school year.

The new budget, which takes effect July 1, estimates all revenue at $10.856 million and expenditures at a little more than $10.5 million.

One of the big expenses in next year’s budget is the money that will be used to raise the starting salary for teachers to $38,000. Reaching that starting level will involve state money to complement local funds. Whether that state money will be available beyond the 2023-24 school year is unclear; R-1 administrators are hopeful that state lawmakers will not back away from the additional money now that they have agreed to help boost starting pay statewide.

The budget contains pay raises for all other district employees — teachers, support staff, administrators — amounting to 3.75 percent.

As for the starting salary for teachers, district officials say this increase should a starting point, not a final amount.

“We need to be pushing $40,000?” asked Director Mark Brooks.

“That needs to be the goal for us to be competitive,” replied Superintendent Geoff Neill.

Getting to that point might be difficult, especially without continued state support. Neill explained that assessed valuation figures — upon which property taxes are based — show “little to no growth” in Gasconade County. However, he said he’s optimistic that figures will show growth in the district’s portions of Franklin, Montgomery and Warren counties, which would generate additional revenue to offset the flat level expected in Gasconade County.

The district also is preparing to invest in improved security at the three classroom buildings. Plans have changed since a more-secure entry system first was proposed last year. That project became bogged down in delays and an inability to find a contractor to take on the work. A scaled-back version of a more-secure entryway for the elementary, middle and high schools were put out for bid with Franklin County Glass selected as the winning bidder.

“This is something we’ve talked about for a long time,” said Board President Dot Schoening.

“It needs to get done,” added Director Mike Pratte.

Neill said he’s hopeful the district can receive a portion of state grant aimed at helping fund school security measures. R-1 missed out on the initial round of grant allocation, he said, because the state didn’t assess the buildings’ risk as high enough, based on the age of the buildings. He said he’s hoping the district’s funding request will be approved in subsequent rounds of allocation.

On a lighter note, R-1 Maintenance Director Dustin Hoener was applauded for the district receiving a 100-percent mark from the Missouri State Highway Patrol regarding this year’s inspection of the bus fleet. One of the directors mentioned that Gasconade County R-2 received a mark of 85 percent.

“That’s why we’re R-1 and they’re R-2,” quipped Hoener.