District 24 adopts $26.6M budget

The District 24 Board of Education adopted its proposed $26.6 million budget for 2010-11 on April 14, which contains a budget increase of 1.75 percent over the current year’s spending plan. School officials say that the expected tax impact is subject to change over the next few weeks, but as it stands now the average homeowner would pay $23 less in taxes.

According to Assistant Superintendent Dan Onorato, all current programs are preserved in this budget including full-day kindergarten, technology and inclusion classes.

Some contractual budget increases in the 2010-11 spending plan, Onorato said, were raises in district-wide salaries and benefits — which went up 7 percent — and special education costs. Onorato explained that the district could bring back special needs students, where he said they can function well in a self-contained class.

The district will eliminate one kindergarten class at the Robert W. Carbonaro School, one sixth-grade class at the William L. Buck School and one fifth-grade class at Brooklyn Avenue. Superintendent Dr. Ed Fale said that even though district officials expect enrollment to decrease, which is the reason for the reduced sections, it could still go up.

Historically, Onorato said, residents move in during the summer, which could impact class sizes and the budget. Though home sales are down, he explained, if that were to pick up, the budget could change.

The district is losing three teachers through retirement, Onorato said, which will prevent layoffs as the number of class sections is reduced.

The budget hearing will be held on May 5 and the budget vote on May 18.