School board adopts 2010-2011 budget
June 22, 2010 2:59 PM
During its last meeting of the school year Monday night (June 21), the Corvallis School Board adopted a 2010-2011 general operating fund budget of just under $63 million, including contingencies and reserves.
The district plans expenditures of nearly $55.6 million next year which represents an increase of only 4.2 percent over this year's budget. Most of the increase is due to contractual obligations with employees, but additional resources also were allocated to each school, the support of Professional Learning Communities, instructional materials, translation services, new teacher mentoring, technology services and the high school robotics programs.
In voting for the approved budget, board members agreed to take an extra $2.6 million out of the district's Rainy Day Fund to help address a state funding shortfall following the most recent state revenue forecast.
Business director Roy Burling said that district staff would be trying to identify areas of the budget during the summer and fall that could be reduced without affecting student learning in an effort to protect reserves as long as possible. Superintendent Dawn Tarzian also announced that all of the district's employee groups have been asked to consider foregoing their cost of living raises next year as part of that effort.
Adjustments to the adopted 2010-2011 budget are likely next fall following these discussions, Burling said.
Other presentations during the board meeting included a Diversity and Inclusion Committee report on its preliminary diversity action plan and a demonstration by a team of Lincoln Elementary School teachers describing their work as a Professional Learning Community (PLC).
Preliminary results from state tests show significant gains in reading and math in grades 3 through 5, especially among English Language learners and Hispanic students. District officials believe the Lincoln staff's commitment to weekly PLC collaboration time has been critical to student success.
