The North Hero School Board invites all to attend this evening's Informational Meeting to go over the changes made to the school budget for tomorrow's budget revote. For those who cannot make it this evening, here is a synapsis:
The budget has been reduced by $52,333. Changes made are as follows:
• Reduced Music from 1.5 days to 1 day. Our treasured music teacher is pursuing an international opportunity next year – which leaves us to hire a new music teacher. The board felt that it would be easier to hire for one full day – rather than ask someone to drive to North Hero for an additional half day. We hope to condense music classes to the mornings – with say, kindergarten, first, and second grades together, then third through sixth grades together, thus leaving the afternoon available for band lessons. This way no programming is being cut – it is merely being condensed for efficiency.
• Reduced heating fuel costs by $7448. After reviewing the actual fuel costs for the previous few years – we decided that we could reduce the budgeted amount.
• Reduced high school tuition costs by $16,885 as we discovered one student that no longer resides in North Hero.
• Removed Maintenance Line Items 546 & 547 totaling $25,000 from the budget. These expenses have been reallocated to the Capital Reserve Fund.
Rather than rescinding the full $100,000 Capital Reserve Fund, the School Board opted to reallocate Budget Line items 546 & 547 (Operation/Maintenance of Plant - Repairs/Maintenance & Operation/Maintenance of Plant - equipment repairs) - thus lowering the expenditure budget by $25,000.
The remainder of the funds will replace the gym floors (safety issue) $40,000, repair/replace South Entry Security (security issue) $12,000, replace interior door locks (safety issue) $8,000, and replace the much needed classroom heat transfers (high priority) $15,000.
By taking care of much needed maintenance and repairs now, we will not be at the mercy of the new CIUUSD in the future.
BUDGET FACTS:
• The proposed expenditure budget is lower than budget years FY2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017!
• The proposed tax rate of $1.5845 is lower than ALL other towns in the GISU!
• The proposed tax rate of $1.5845 is lower that FY2013, 2014, and 2015!
• The proposed per equalized pupil cost at $15,363 is more than $1000 lower than Grand Isle, South Hero & Alburgh!
To get all of the facts, please attend the Informational Meeting tonight at 7pm in the North Hero School gym.
-North Hero School Board
Mason Maltais (Chair), Bridget Brisson, Jennifer Gariety
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