The Rome City Board of Education approved an $86.3 million budget for fiscal year 2025. The vote was unanimous, though Board Chair Faith Collins and member Melissa Davis were absent.
The largest share of the budget, $55.8 million, is allocated for instruction, with around $8 million for school and system administration.
Rome City Schools relies on funding from the city, state, and federal government. It’s estimated that $54 million will come from the city school tax.
Rome City Manager Sammy Rich clarified that while the city funds the schools monthly, it does not approve the budget. The school board sets the budget, and the city only determines the millage rate.
The board also approved a new middle school ELA curriculum, effective in August. Marores Perry, director of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE), highlighted the program’s growth. Rome High now offers over 25 pathways, with 97% of students completing one, often earning certifications. This year, 52% of graduates, or 480 students, finished a pathway.
The next Board of Education meeting will be July 8.
