School Board Looks Toward Next Fiscal Year

It is budget season for our schools yet again this year.

Business Administrator Betty Shankel presented her budget assumptions to the Amherst School Board at their meeting on Thursday to prepare for FY13.

Shankel started off with good news with her projection that they may see a small surplus of $31,000 this year.

Enrollment, which ties into many other areas of the budget, is projected to decrease by six students at Amherst Middle School, which currently holds 764 students. At Clark-Wilkins Elementary’s enrollment is expected to increase by two, but that is including 18 preschool students.

Healthcare is expected to increase by 10 percent for school staff, which comes to an expected increase of $310,578.

NH Retirement for certified staff is expected to increase 24.5 percent, while the amount for non-certified staff should decrease by 26 percent.

Shankel said that the school has seen large savings since it started using natural gas.

“Natural gas is so cheap, it has become cheaper and cheaper in the past decade,” said Shankel.

Future improvements in the schools could include a refurbished stage, life skills room and lockers at AMS. At Clark-Wilkins, there are plans to fence in the pre-school area and refurbish the Wilkins entryway.

The board also recognized the need to continually update technology in the classrooms to keep up with “21st Century learning.”

The following is the Budget Timeline for the Amherst School Board:

November 17: Draft 1 of Budget
December 15: Draft 2 of Budget and Ways & Means Report Out
January 11: Public Hearing for Budget and other warrant articles
February 7: Deliberative Session
March 13: District Voting