What You Should Know About the Proposed School Board Budget

There are three prongs on which the proposed 2012-13 school budget was built, Superintendent Gary Mala told members of Avon parent-teacher organizations at a budget presentation Monday evening at .

The first goal is implementing technology in the classroom so that it supplements teaching, he said. The second focus is strengthening writing through district-wide curriculum integration. Lastly, is going through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation process, which will cost $14,000 in summer work.

Here are some facts you might want to know about the recommended school board operating budget.

Operating Budget Request

• This year, the Board of Education requested a $50.8 million gross budget. The town already budgets gross, but this is the ’s first year doing so instead of presenting a net budget. With gross accounting, school revenue sources are factored in alongside projected expenditures instead of subtracted to get a bottom line net number.

• The combined budget the Board of Finance will review amounts to $79.4 million. That includes the $50.8 million school board operating budget and the $28.3 million town budget, which comprises Avon's operating, debt services, sewer and capital improvement program budgets.

Components of the Budget

What This Budget Would Support, If Approved

• Wireless Internet, interactive white boards and projectors, E-books, Virtual Classroom, more re-financed desktop computers, new leases for classroom laptops, teacher training.

• Two more teachers at Avon High School.

• Summer work on accreditation.

• Additional summer counselor hours ($10,000).

• Eliminating graduating fee ($10,000).

• The budget would bring back the late bus to the high school and middle school.

• An athletic uniform replacement program ($30,000).

• The addition of an ELL tutor at Thompson Brook.

What are the school district's predicted revenue sources?

• The Avon Central Office predicts that there will be $4,019,039 in non-tax revenue. The breakdown is in the following table, which Mala presented to the join PTOs:

• The projected revenue that will come from property taxes and state aid is $46,842,808, Mala said.

• The former school district that rolled over year to year was liquidated and divided up into specific line items and accounts.

Capital Improvement Program

• The school board’s largest capital request includes $300,000 for new interactive smart boards and LCD projectors. If approved, that will come out of the proposed $1,892,783 capital improvement program budget, which is separate from the school district operating budget and encompasses town and school capital projects.

• If approved, the proposed capital budget also supports outfitting Avon schools with wireless Internet, Mala said.

Important Budget Dates

• The Board of Finance will review the combined proposal at its public hearing on April 9 at 7 p.m. at the Avon Senior Center

• The finance board's budget workshop is scheduled for April 11 at the same time and place.

• The annual town budget meeting is scheduled for May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the senior center.

• Doors will open there at 6 a.m. for the budget referendum will be held there on May 16.