Ed Board OKs $37.6 Million School Budget Plan

The Montville Board of Education had accepted Superintendent Pamela Aubin’s proposed 2012-2013 budget of $37,627,497.

The board also approved a proposal for full-day kindergarten. (Click here to read that story).

Both votes in Tuesday’s meeting were unanimous.

The proposed budget is $994,762, or 2.72 percent, higher than the current year’s budget.

Aubin pointed out that the schools will not have $610,000, money they received this year from the federal government’s Education Job Act. This money went to pay teachers’ salaries.

That amount, according to an explanation in the budget, includes three retirements, but no other reductions in staff.

Salaries in the proposed budget show an increase of $735,369 over the current year.

There is the potential of getting $166,239 from the state, under a program Gov. Malloy has proposed, but that is not certain.

Other proposed increases

Tuition: Proposed increase of $392,541. Aubin and the board said that many of the increases are mandated. One of the largest is in an area called “Tuition,” which would fund students’ enrollment in magnet schools, and “special education/DCF (Department of Children and Families) placement.”

Purchased services: Proposed increase of $111,878.

This money “provides for an increase in services required by students who are attending the Marine Science Magnet School, Regional Multicultural Magnet School, ISAAC schools along with specific services that are required by students with Individualized Education Plans.”

This category also includes a one-time cost for the district to tie into the fiber optic network.

Salaries for noncertified staff – up $35,467

Salaries for paraprofessionals-special education – up $93,101

Contracted services – up $67,597 (some maintenance costs, physicals for uninsured students)

Proposed decreases

Electricity – down $76,257. Reductions are from lighting retrofitting, a focus on energy conservation and the use of energy management software

Property insurance – down $35,715, reflecting a change to an insurance broker.

Transportation and liability insurance – down $26,853. “The board has a favorable claims history, and monitors situations to reduce risk exposure,” Aubin’s report says.

Workers’ compensation insurance – down $42,232. Again, this reflects the shift to an insurance broker, and “favorable claims as a result of improved facilities, safety committee, Tools for Schools, safer working environment and training…” Aubin’s synopsis says.

The Montville Town Council will accept or reject the proposed budget later in the year.