|
The Gilbert School Budget for 2003-04
By Patricia Bourque
On February 12, the W. L. Gilbert School Corporation, which oversees the running of The Gilbert School and includes three members appointed by the Winchester Board of Education and one member appointed by the Hartland Board of Education, approved a school budget for 2003-04 of $6,074,383. The approved budget was a result of several meetings by the corporation's finance committee, which includes a member appointed by the Winchester Board of Education and a member appointed by the Hartland Board of Education.
The 2003-04 Gilbert School budget represents a $226,000 increase over the 2002-03 budget. This 3.86% increase in the operating cost of running the school represents one of the lowest increases in educational budgets in the area.
Based upon the 1997 contracts between the W.L. Gilbert School Corporation and the towns of Winchester and Hartland, the budget cost is divided proportionally between the two towns based on the number of enrolled students as of the third Wednesday in January of each year.
On January 15, 2003, Winchester's student population was 432; Hartland's student population was 77. This population split, by contractual obligation, gives Winchester responsibility for 84.87% of the approved budget and Hartland responsibility for 15.13% of the approved budget.
After adjustments that take other sources of revenue ($105,500) into account, Winchester's cost for the 2003-04 Gilbert School budget will be $5,103,288. Hartland's cost will be $865,594.
The increase or decrease of each town's respective tuition cost for 2003-04 over their tuition cost for 2002-03 is based, per contract, on each town's proportional share of the student population attending The Gilbert School.
Patricia Bourque is Chairman of the W. L. Gilbert School Corporation.
| 
