A barbecue dinner, children’s activities and a live band are just a few of the activities planned for an all-day benefit July 14 at the Bucket Brigade Restaurant, Farm Road 2252 in the Bracken area, 2 miles from Rolling Oaks Mall.

Money raised at the event will go to the family of Maurice Lamkin, 7, who has continuing medical difficulties following serious reactions to a flu shot administered two years ago.

Maurice, who suffers seizures and has developed epilepsy, is unable to talk since his near-fatal reactions to the flu shot he received in 2005. He has had to learn to walk again, is unable to chew food and is under constant medication for his condition.

The owners of Bucket Brigade agreed to sponsor the July 14 event, which will include barbecue plate sales, a silent auction, bouncers, a petting zoo, clowns and a dunk tank, as well as a band and dancing that evening.

The event will run 11 a.m. to midnight. Monetary donations may be sent to a trust fund that has been established at IBC Bank, c/o the Maurice A. Lamkin Jr. Trust Fund, 6909 NE Loop 1604 #E-01, San Antonio 78247. For details, call Michelle Mouille at 590-8228.

North East teachers receive pay raise

The North East School District board of trustees adopted the 2007-2008 district budget, which includes an average 4.5 percent salary increase for teachers. This includes $425 funded by the state and an additional $1,875 funded by the district, for a total general pay increase of $2,300.

All other eligible employees will receive an average 4.5 percent increase based on their midpoint salary. Additionally, the current health and dental premiums will continue without any increases.

The starting teacher salary was increased to $44,000, and new stipends up to $1,500 were approved to help recruit and retain math and science teachers. That stipend amount will depend on the number of math or science periods taught by the teacher. Some other stipend amounts were increased to reflect the latest market values.

The budget also includes an increase to the daily rates of most substitutes. For example, a certified teacher substitute will make $85 per day rather than $75, and an instructional assistant substitute will earn $64 per day instead of $50.

The board adopted a 2007-2008 budget with projected revenue close to $462.7 million and projected expenditures of $464.6 million.