Davis School Board approves $471million budget, a 7.5% boost

FARMINGTON — The Davis School Board passed a $471 million budget Tuesday, with increases in monies allocated for class-size reduction, new school operations, rising utility costs and growth.

That's a 7.5 percent increase from last year and Bruce Williams, business administrator for the district, said the budget does not contain a tax increase and is based on the county's certified tax rate, which means property tax revenue didn't change.

Instead, the larger budget for next year comes primarily from state funding that will rise based on increases in enrollment in the district.

Along with and increase in pay hikes that come with more experience training, educators will be getting a 4.25 percent cost-of-living adjustment. That is the highest raise in 10 years, Williams said.

The district also set aside $1.3 million for class-size reduction, including an additional $200,000 allocated specifically for class-size reductions at junior-high schools.

"Junior-high age is a crucial time for kids, and (class size reduction) is a great way to identify struggling students," said David Tanner, principal of Millcreek Junior High.

With the new money from the district, each of the 14 junior highs will receive an extra half-time employee.

Millcreek was able to combine that with an existing half-time position to hire a new full-time English teacher, which will decrease the student population in English classes from 30-32 students to about 24.

"It's a great message and a great starting point, and teachers are very happy with that. As a former teacher, I know that it is much easier to manage a classroom when numbers are down," Tanner said.

Tanner said with smaller classes, teachers are able to give adequate attention and help for those students who are struggling with course work. That, in turn, helps prevent students from getting frustrated and dropping out down the road.

Fewer students in the classroom also aids in a smoother transition from elementary school, where students during a year have built a relationship with one single teacher, to junior high, where they have seven. Smaller class sizes enable students to better build those close relationships with educators, Tanner said.

Rick Call, Davis secondary-schools director, said the schools will be doing a study to look at what kind of specific impacts the smaller classes will have.

Leaders also set aside an extra $1.2 million to keep the lights on and bodies warm. Officials say the rising utility costs have taken a toll on the district, and a committee has been organized to find ways to reduce those energy costs.

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