By Rick LaPlante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
The Board of Education on Tuesday night approved the 2007-08 budget and multi-year projections for 2008-09 and 2009-10.
The $105.1 million budget for 2007-08 reflects the realities of declining enrollment – it is expected that about 200 fewer students will be enrolled in the fall than this year, equating to approximately $1.1 million less in state revenue. Salaries and benefits account for 95 percent of the unrestricted general fund (85 percent is desirable). A 4.53 cost-of-living adjustment will be passed through to employees, per the District’s multi-year agreements with the New Haven Teachers Association, California School Employees Association and New Haven Administrators Association.
The budget funds the second year of the New Haven Strategic Plan, crafted by students, parents, teachers, classified employees, administrators and other community members in 2005-06. It funds all mandated programs, despite the fact that the state will not reimburse for mandated costs; and it includes a 3 percent reserve for economic uncertainty and 3 percent for restricted maintenance.
Also on Tuesday night, the Board:
● Approved a Strategic Plan for the counseling program, designed with the objectives that all students meet annual academic, career and personal goals, graduation/promotion rates reach 98 percent by 2012, and academic and behavior data reflect the DistrictÂ’s demographic profile, also by 2012.
● Received a report on safety, cleanliness and adequacy of school facilities and needed maintenance to ensure good repair.
● Approved an increase in fees being charged to developers, to $4.97 per square foot, funds that can be spent on construction, remodeling and other uses, for a period of five years.
● Approved the final reading of a policy authorizing the installation of video surveillance cameras at the discretion of individual school sites.
● Adjourned with a moment of silence in memory of longtime District employee Dolly Alfonso, who was killed in an automobile accident over the weekend.
Agendas of all Board of Education meetings and minutes of past meetings are available on the District website: www.nhusd.k12.ca.us