By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Next year's education budget is just a vote away from the governor's desk. The Senate approved the record six billion dollar budget yesterday. It would provide pay increases for school workers and would hire another 360 special education and physical education teachers. The Senate's budget is a bit different from the one the House approved, so it must go back for House approval tomorrow. The Senate also gave final approval to a proposal to add another five days to the school calendar. That would make the school year 180 days. Employees would get a little extra pay to compensate them for the extra time.