SHEFFIELD -- The Southern Berkshire Regional School Committee will perform one further review and then vote on a proposed fiscal 2014 budget of $14.6 million for consideration in the spring by its five member towns.
Monterey is scheduled to shoulder the highest increase in assessments at 11.6 percent. Egremont will have an increase of 4.16 percent, with New Marlborough and Sheffield at around 2 percent.
Alford's assessment will decrease 19 percent due to a formula that takes into account how many students from each town attend school in the district.
The proposed budget in fiscal 2014 is $14,634,807, an increase of $190,827 from the current spending plan of $14,443,980.
Following review by the Finance and School committees, the budget will go once more before the School Committee on March 14. The five member towns are scheduled to vote on a budget plan during town meeting in May.
"Every item in this budget was examined to see if it was still necessary," said Finance Committee Chairman Vito Valentini.
The budget is tentatively scheduled to include a $20,000 allocation for an extended-year program for elementary school students. The program, a recommendation from the district's elementary school task force, would likely be implemented next year and be voluntary, Valentini said. The program is currently still being developed.
There is $14,000 designated for curriculum program material related to the newly adopted Common Core K-6 math
Elementary Math Curriculum Committee Chairwoman Jennifer DeAngelo said elementary schools are teaching the Common Core math standards, but the school hasn't implemented a comprehensive curriculum program.
A curriculum program will be selected for implementation by September.
Despite a $90,000 budget deficit in the cafeteria program last year, Valentini said funding was not set aside for future anticipated deficits.
The cafeteria program is being internally reviewed by Superintendent Michael Singleton and Business Administrator Bruce Turner.
"We are optimistic that our business model will yield the appropriate revenue for the district," Valentini said.




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