The BOE scheduled an additional meeting on April 1, to consider a few remaining budgetary issues, specifically transportation, roofs and additional or expanded programs for the upcoming school year. Generally speaking, as of now, the increase will most likely be around the 7.33 percent figure the board has been working on over the past few weeks. In regard to the controversial nurse teacher issue, as of now they have been eliminated from the preliminary proposed budget. However, the final decision will be made on April 15, the day, by law, the board has to adopt the proposed budget.

Initially the transportation bid for next year came in at 19.2 percent over last year's contract, whose total was $1.6 million. Before the actual bid was submitted a few weeks ago, Assistant Superintendent for Schools Mary Callahan had estimated only a 10 percent increase when the preliminary budget was put together. After the bid was submitted, the board was looking at an additional $160,000, as this was the only bid they received. (Reportedly, the problem with obtaining bids for Port comes from its location (end of the peninsula) and the fact that there is no convenient place to park the buses during school hours when they're not in use.)

However, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Geoff Gordon and Ms. Callahan negotiated with the transportation vendor, Pierce. They managed to reduce the bid 7 percent and believe that they can realize another 2.9 percent in other efficiencies.

The board also considered other options for reducing the transportation budget. These include:

* changing bus service back to the state mandate which compels districts to provide service for K-five students who live two or more miles away from their schools, and grades nine-12 students who live more than 3 miles. Currently the district provides bus service for K-five kids who live 1/2 mile from school; sixth-eighth graders in the middle school who live 3/4 miles from their school and ninth-12th grade students if they live more than 1 and 1/4 miles from school.

* eliminating late busing, $67,000 expenditure.

* asking parents to opt out of busing at the beginning of the year, which could mean fewer buses resulting in less money. Reportedly many buses run half empty now.

However, the board feels that the impact of these changes, along with combining routes, need to be studied and discussed. And while it is too late for this budget cycle, board members will be reviewing these options for future budgets.

The board had been contemplating placing a separate proposition on the May 20 budget ballot to ask taxpayers whether they would be willing to pay for the roof at Weber, and possibly other roofs in the district in need of repair. If this project was included in this year's regular operating budget as a capital improvement, the budget would rise approximately another 2 percent, which would mean over a 9 percent increase, which is an increase that would be difficult to get voter approval for.

Also the cost to replace the Weber roof. $1.7 mil, that would have to be used for the May vote, is only an estimate, obtained two years ago, with an escalation factor figured in. Some board members did not feel comfortable, preferring to use an up to date estimate.

Board members Nancy Cowles and Peter Wezenaar wanted to go forward with the proposition, however the other five board members did not.

All agreed however that the roofs must be repaired. Board member Rob Seiden noted that for the past several years, "We've done a lot of expensive patch jobs."

The board asked the Facilities Committee to develop plans for roof repair/replacement with the architect, outlining the scope of various projects with cost estimates. The board will then consider various options, including floating a mini-bond.

The board discussed and approved recommendations made by the Superintendent of Schools for curriculum to be added beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. This includes foreign language in elementary schools, expanding the program in gifted education for all students and revising the middle school mathematics program. (The subject of high school courses was tabled because of the late hour of the meeting, 12:50 a.m.) The additional costs for these programs will be part of the current budget for teachers. Should additional teachers be necessary, their salaries will come from the current allotment for teachers. (For example, additional dollars in the teaching staff budget could be used if one teacher retires and is replaced with one at a lower salary,