With a gift of $1.9 million from the Woodside School Foundation, up 15 percent, and property tax revenues of $4.4 million, up 7 percent, the budget of the Woodside Elementary School District looks to be in good shape for the 2007-08 fiscal year, which started July 1.
At its June 5 meeting, the school board of the one-school K-8 district unanimously approved the budget, which projects both revenues and expenses at $7.4 million, an increase of 7 percent on each side of the ledger.
One interesting item shows the cost of lawn care headed sharply down. Grass will need watering and mowing on the baseball field, but new artificial turf on the two soccer fields should slash maintenance costs by 67 percent, down to $12,000 from $37,000, according to the budget.
Overall, the budget shows a tiny surplus of $23,000 for the district, which enrolls about 450 students.
The surplus would be enough to keep the reserve at 17 percent, well above the state-required 4 percent.
Among expenses, teachers and staff compensation will rise 5 percent. At $5.9 million, this category represents about 80 percent of district spending.
Other spending includes a $40,000 grant for a full-time art teacher. The teacher taught part-time last year and the grant is for up to five years, said Assistant Superintendent Tim Hanretty.
The district is planning a one-time outlay of $128,000 to upgrade K-8 science classes with new materials and teacher training.
Bond spending
New construction on campus — paid for with voter-approved bond funds of $12 million and up to $1.2 million from the foundation — is currently under budget, Mr. Hanretty said.The campus renovation project will remove 17 portable classrooms and add 20,650 square feet in new one-story structures, including 14 classrooms, a band room, a computer lab, a new administration building and a community room.
The playing fields will be ready by September, with classrooms opening periodically over the fall and the administration building in October, Mr. Hanretty said.
Asked if artificial turf, essentially an outdoor carpet, represents a toxic-gas danger to kids low to the ground, Mr. Hanretty said off-gassing falls to “negligible” levels three weeks after installation.
The field upgrades will total $950,000, which includes a $400,000 gift from the foundation.
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