The Andover School Board is recommending the School District Meeting on Monday, March 3, approve two warrant articles (numbers 5 and 6) that would use a possible budget surplus to fund the High School Tuition Expendable Trust Fund and the Special Education Expendable Trust Fund .

The purpose of these trust funds, established several years ago, is to provide stability and security to the operating budget. High school tuition is a per pupil cost, and with enrollment fluctuations, and more specifically projected increases in the coming years, funding this trust fund will avoid a significant increase in the Andover School District’s operating budget.

Similarly, funding the Special Education Trust Fund will help offset an unexpected increase in special education obligations.

The School Board is proposing that these Trust Funds be funded only in the case that there is a budget surplus. No additional money will be raised and appropriated to fund these trust funds.

Facilities Study

Warrant Article 7 would provide for Architect/Engineering fees for a study to determine appropriate options for continued use of the present AE/MS facilities to meet current demands and future plans for this facility and grounds consistent with the AE/MS Long Range Plan, the Town of Andover Long Range Plan updated October 22, 2013, and applicable State and Federal regulations.

Adequate Education Funding

Warrant Article 8 is based on new state regulations that permit school districts to retain up to 2.5 % of unexpended funds to provide for changes in the amount provided by the state “Adequate Education” funding from property taxes. This amount has experienced some large changes from year to year, requiring several school districts to hold an Emergency Special School District Meeting to meet a sudden decrease in this source of revenue. Spending from the fund that would be established by Warrant Article 8 would be restricted and would have to be approved by the New Hampshire State Commissioner of Education.