School board to discuss budget recommendations

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The Maricopa Unified School District governing board will discuss Wednesday a committee’s recommendations for spending $3.125 million next school year – money that includes additional state funds the district received for converting six schools to public charters.

The district decided this year to convert six of its nine schools to public charters for the 2014-2015 school year.

The state provides additional funding for public charters. MUSD officials had expected to receive $3.6 million for the conversions, but the Arizona Legislature cut that funding to $2.7 million prior to passing the state budget.

The charter schools will not receive additional funding after the 2014-15 school year.

“Charter funds come with no strings attached and can be used at the discretion of the school district for one more year,” said Steve Chestnut, the district superintendent.

In addition to the $2.7 million, the budget committee also looked at how to spend an additional $425,000 – funding related to an education-focused ballot measure approved by voters in 2000.

The committee was formed only to look at the $3.125 million – not the entire budget, which Chestnut expects to total more than $35 million. The committee is composed of 11 community members and 11 members of the district’s staff.

The largest single expense item covered by the $3.125 million that’s proposed by the committee is $973,000 marked for the reserve fund, according to a district report.

Another large budget line item is a recommended $787,000 for experience-based salary increases for all staff, according to the report. The board already approved these raises.

Next, the committee is recommending $300,000 for district-wide technology upgrades and $300,000 for the school’s new academic focus plans, the report states.

The committee recommends spending $240,000 on special education staffing, $180,000 for additional special education costs and $150,000 for all-day kindergarten classes.

Also recommended is $50,000 for Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology compliance for its Career and Technical Education program and $45,000 for utilities, supplies, materials, equipment and other inflation, according to the report. 

The committee’s recommendations do not include any funding for an additional social worker and mental health support person or for reduction in kindergarten class size, according to the report.

Also on the agenda, the board could vote to approve two additional high school teaching positions.

The board meets at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office Administration Building, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. To view the agenda, click here

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