Easton Area School District Officials Expected to Discuss 2011-12 Budget

Tonight’s board meeting agenda is chocked full of items up for discussion and at the top of the agenda will be the proposed 2011-12 school budget.

Residents can expect district business manager Marie Guidry to detail the $141.9 million budget that includes a $10.5 million deficit. The deficit, if not fixed, would increase the tax rate for Northampton County 1.6 percent. Taxpayers in nearby Riegelsville would see their rates go down .73 percent.

Board officials will have the challenge of trimming down the budget prior to final adoption, which must be done by June 30. Also on tonight’s agenda will be rescheduling the all-day budget workshop to April 13.

The board will also consider revisions to the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school calendars.

Several major snowstorms forced eight school closures so far this school year. The original 2010-11 school year calendar ended on June 7.  The possible last day of school could be June 17. But the final say is up to the district. Make up days could be added onto the end of the school year or half-days and days originally slated as “off” days could be changed.

And finally, the board will discuss publicizing for the partial roof replacement of the Easton Area High School. The proposed $1.4 million, 110,000 square foot roof replacement project has been in the works since 2010. Replacement of 50,000 square feet of the roof is expected to cost $81,250. The work will be done over the summer in three phases. The entire project is expected to replace the roof, demolish two abandoned chimneys, replace flashing and other repairs.

The board is set to meet at 6:30pm in district offices located at 1801 Bushkill Drive.