Technology, Textbooks Hit In Default Budget

The Amherst School District will need to decide what to spend, and what not to spend, with a default budget in the next fiscal year.

Business Administrator Elizabeth Shankel told the School Board on Thursday that technology items and textbooks will be some of items affected after voters turned down their operating budget this month.

The default budget has been set at $24,245,571, which is $247,936 less than proposed budget of $24,493,507.

She recommended that the board use their projected surplus, which could be up to $162,402, to pay for elementary textbooks and interactive classroom systems like SMART Boards.

The school district wanted to use more technology to advance 21st century learning in classrooms, but will have to make do with less than they planned.

Other items that Shankel recommended should be funded include required anti-bullying materials and NWEA testing. Her plan would be to use $77,623 out of the projected surplus for the next fiscal year, and wait to see where the rest of the funds could be used.

Shankel also said that administrative staff may not receive any increases this year. The employees did not receive any increases last year.

The School Board does not need to decide on the final spending of the default budget until June, but is already planning on how to better sell their proposed budget to voters next year.

Ways & Means Committee Chairman Mark Vincent said the board needs to better communicate with the public when it comes to mandated increases and needs in the budget. He said that the voters turned down every proposed budget this year, but passed separate spending articles.

New board member Paul Prescott said that he thought the proposed budget was great, but they really need to sell it to voters.

“We need to show them what the increases give their children,” he said. “If we really believe it, we need to be out there selling it so they can make an informed decision at the polls.”