Amherst School District Addresses Mandatory Increases

The Amherst School District has dealt with the contractual increases in their proposed budget to come out with a 1 percent increase, instead of a 2.2 percent increase.

Mandatory increases in health, salaries and NH Retirement costs resulted in about $900,000 in additional costs, according to Business Administrator Elizabeth Shankel.

To counter this, the board is making enrollment-driven reductions in staffing and also procuring savings through bond refinancing. This has decreased the mandated increases down to $500,000.

The proposed budget for the Amherst School District is $24,493,507. The default budget is set to $24,245,571.

Shankel said that revenue from the has helped to offset costs in their proposed budget.

Also on the warrant this year is an article to have voters approve the cost items ($14,173) of a new collective bargaining agreement for support staff. Employees have agreed to pay more for health insurance in order to receive higher wages.

The agreement would also replace the current plan with a cheaper high deductible HSA plan.

The board will be focusing on improving the district's math program, integrating technology and intervening early in order to help those who are having difficult learning.

The Amherst School District will be hosting its deliberative session on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in Souhegan High School.

Voting for Amherst residents will be Tuesday, March 13 at Souhegan High School from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Mont Vernon residents will vote at the Village School from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

(Check the PDF file attached for the full Amherst School District Annual Meeting Warrant.)