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Decreases in Expenses Reduce four positions and eliminate capital expenditures in the PREP Academy budget The PREP Academy budget is being reduced by $115,488. This reduction is accomplished by reducing the number of teacher assistants in the two academies from eight to four and by purchasing the computer hardware from Program 69 state dollars from this year's budget. Reduce the proposed budget for programs for Limited English Proficient students by almost $200,000 Funding for the LEP Task Force recommendations is decreased by $198,104; however, we are anticipating that the Task Force's recommendations very well could be fully funded and implemented. Non - personnel items are being purchased from 1998 -99 state dollars that must be expended by June 30, 1999 br else they revert back to the state. We are expecting the General Assembly to double ,the funding available for LEP students. If this proposed funding is approved, state funding will support the 1.5 additional state positions received this year and 3 additional positions for next year. With the one teaching position proposed for next year from local funds, we will increase the number of ESL teachers by four and be able to implement all of the strategies recommended by the LEP Task Force for the first year. If our allotment from the final budget approved by the General Assembly is not sufficient to fund the proposed positions, we could not fully fund the recommendations in light of the limited funds being reserved in the contingency fund. Defer initiative- to reduce class size No funding is recommended for reducing class size this year; therefore, further consideration will be delayed for one year. Although reducing class size is a high priority for the Board of Education, there simply,are not sufficient funds to proceed with this initiative. This will save $217,320. Reduce the number of technology technician positions from 6.5 to 5 and decrease the length of their contracts The original budget request called for 6.5 technology technician positions with 11- month contracts. This request has been reduced to 5 positions that will work under 10.5 month contracts. This results in savings of $51,583. Reduce budgeted allocation to charter schools We have reduced the amount budgeted for charter schools by $27,830.. It is very difficult to project the payments that the district will be required to, make to charter schools; however, based on this year's experience and the closing of one charter school and the. relocation of another to Orange County, we believe that this reduction is feasible. If not, the district is committed to making these payments to charter schools and funds would need to be drawn from the contingency account. Reduce contingency funds by an additional $50,000 The 1998 -99 contingency account was $250,000. Originally, we recommended that it be reduced to $200,000. In order to fund other high priority projects, we recommend that this account be reduced by another $50,000 to a total of $150,000. If no major, unanticipated needs arise next year, this contingency should be sufficient.