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Superintendent outlines budget timeline, flags 4.47% levy cap and a proposed 9-period middle-school day
Summary
The superintendent told the Beacon City School District board the maximum modeled tax-levy increase is 4.47% and previewed a major budget initiative: converting the middle-school schedule to a 9-period day to expand electives and avoid conflicts with academic-intervention services; implementation could require 3–4 FTE and additional curriculum work; administration will provide levy-impact scenarios at the next meeting.
At the March 9 Beacon City School District Board of Education meeting, the superintendent presented an overview of the upcoming budget process and highlighted a proposed major initiative: changing Roundabout Middle School to a 9-period day to increase access to specials and reduce conflicts with academic intervention services (AIS).
The superintendent said the district's modeled maximum allowable levy increase for next year is 4.47% and reminded trustees of the calendar of next steps: the property tax report card must be filed by April 24, the budget hearing is scheduled for May 9, and the budget vote is set for May 19. He cautioned trustees that the governor's proposed funding levels (including a projected increase in pre-K funding to about $1,100,000 from this year's $450,000) are not final and should not be counted on as certain until the state budget is enacted.
On the 9-period proposal, the superintendent said a longer-period schedule at the middle-school level would allow students more opportunity to take health, technology, band, chorus and other specials without forcing students who require AIS to drop those offerings. He said the change is still in design, could require curriculum development over the summer, and estimated it would require roughly 3 to 4 full-time-equivalent positions; some staffing could come from converted high-school duties or newly budgeted teacher positions.
Board members asked the administration to prepare alternative levy scenarios for the next meeting (for example, modeling the fiscal impact of a levy closer to 3.5% or to the previously-discussed 3.63%) and to break down how much of the proposed levy increase is attributable to capital-project debt versus operating additions. The superintendent agreed to produce those revenue and impact models for the board's next session.
The presentation did not include a formal vote on the 9-period design; trustees requested more detailed cost, staffing and curricular information before any final decision.
