With $280,000 projected to be left over at the end of the year, the Board of Education has approved a request for a $139,000 transfer to help upgrade libraries at all nine of the district’s schools.
“We want to get all of our libraries up to the next level,” said Superintendent Deborah Low at Tuesday night’s board meeting.
The money will come out of the health benefits account, which is projected to be $938,000 under budget at year-end, thanks to numerous changes made last year.
Paul Hendrickson, the district’s business manager, presented his April financial report to the board.
He said the transfer request stems from a review of the schools’ libraries, which was done after the budget was completed.
Craig Tunks, the district’s technology director, will discuss the review’s recommendations and present a more detailed report of the upgrades at a meeting on Monday, June 23.
In addition to the health benefits budget, the teachers’ salaries and transportation budget contributed to the district’s projected surplus.
Mr. Hendrickson called the transportation budget “a pleasant surprise.”
He explained that the account — under budget by $120,000 — has been boosted because the new bus company, First Student, charges on actual hours run, instead of specific day rates, as Baumann & Sons, the district’s former bus company charged.
“The results are very positive,” Mr. Hendrickson said.
Despite the energy account being over budget by $185,000, he was pleased with fuel and electricity expenses.
“It’s getting better as the weather improves,” he said.
Some of the other overages included technology, $231,000; facilities, $183,000; and special education, $580,000.
“We anticipate that overrun in special education expenses will be offset by the benefits underrun,” he said.