By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE Public School System wants its $38.6 million budget increased to $42 million in the next fiscal year for its more than 11,600 students.
PSS federal programs officer and acting finance director Tim Thornburgh said the figure has been recommended by the school system’s leadership committee and will be reviewed by the Board of Education.
Thornburgh said the proposed amount will be used for utilities, textbooks, and operation or “all others.”
Of the figure, he added, $35 million will be used for personnel wages; $4 million for power and water; $1.2 million for textbooks; and $1.8 million for school operations.
The acting PSS finance director is hoping that the budget proposal, which he said was based on a financial study of the system, will be adopted by the Board of Education.
On Thursday, Thornburgh presented the proposed budget to all principals and school administrators during a meeting at the Aqua Resort Club.
He said their proposal includes suggestions from school principals.
For the projected $6 million in utilities cost, PSS is hoping that about $2 million can be saved through water and power conservation in schools.
During the meeting on Thursday, school principals were given additional cost-energy saving tips by experts.
“We have to be aware of what we can do to save on our water and power,” Thornburgh said.
PSS has a teaching workforce of 506. It needs about seven more teachers for content areas like mathematics, science and the special education program.