All employees in the Bowling Green Independent School District could see a 1 percent salary increase this year following a boost in state funding for students.

“Hopefully that money will give us an opportunity to consider raises for the staff this year,” Superintendent Gary Fields said after a school board meeting Monday.

The money, an increase of $434,243 through the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky funding program, follows an average daily attendance increase of 96 students for the district. During the meeting, school board officials approved an amendment to the district’s working budget to include the increase.

Fields said after the meeting that the district’s attendance data led officials to anticipate an increase, although it had not been budgeted for in the working budget.

Fields also said the possibility of a 1 percent raise for district employees is “not enough.” He hopes state lawmakers will find a way to increase teacher salaries to keep attracting talented educators. Otherwise, he said, students will suffer.

“If we don’t do something I truly think we’re headed to a teacher shortage, a crisis in education,” he said.

In other business, Fields recognized district bus driver Crystal Gurley with an award for supporting the Bowling Green High School cheerleaders. Gurley regularly drives the team’s bus on cheer trips and helps lift the athletes’ spirits when needed.

Board members also approved the purchase of two new school buses at a total cost of $182,368. They are expected to arrive in July.