Blacksburg High and school district administrators are working on a plan to provide a live broadcast of graduation ceremonies June 6.

Blacksburg High included a request in this year's budget for technology that will allow the school to broadcast the graduation ceremony from its gymnasium into the auditorium. The 700-seat Blacksburg High gym was crowded last June when 92 seniors graduated.

The school could face potential fire code violations if the gym becomes overcrowded.

Graduation classes have grown from 63 in 1995 to a projected 113 this year.

"We hope to provide a live broadcast of graduation this year so we can accommodate more people at graduation," Blacksburg High Principal Jim Touchberry said. "We would be able to broadcast assemblies and other special events to the auditorium in the future."

Blacksburg High has requested additional money for an irrigation system, restroom and concession facilities for a competition softball field.

These requests were among nine school budgets presented by principals to the school board last week.

The Cherokee Technology Center has requested a new heating and air conditioning system and $17,000 in matching grant funds for a school resource officer. The vocational school is seeking the grant in partnership with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Cherokee Technology Center is the only district high school which does not have a resource officer.

Other school budget requests include increasing the library collection at Blacksburg Primary; increasing the time for secretaries charged with record keeping for federal and state accountability requirements; paving projects; and a Gaffney High request for increasing the coaching supplements in nonrevenue sports.

The school board is still waiting on cost estimates before making a decision on a new Gaffney High front entrance and track.

Academic needs, maintenance issues and new school building projects are among the tough choices school trustees will face in working on this year's budget.

"We are going to do as much as we can," said Ola Copeland, who chairs the school board budget committee. "We just hope people won't get mad because we won't be able to fund everything."

The state Senate approved a $6.5 billion budget Wednesday which would fully fund public school education at a base student cost of $2,367.

While state revenues are higher this year, finance director Jim Bridges noted the district has seen a decline in local property values over the past two years.

"This is a tough budget year," Bridges told school trustees. "There will likely be no new money available outside of what is used for paving projects and to address safety issues."