The budget includes $11,000 for in-school suspensions. The position would oversee students who have been involved in minor incidents, rather than sending them out of the building for out-of-school suspension. "Keeping students here makes far more sense for our needs," said Dr. Jackson.

A contracted student assistance program is also being requested to help students who may be involved with drugs.

"We are looking at more substance abuse potential and students who are making poor decisions at an earlier age," said Dr. Jackson. "One of the options is to contract for a student assistance program at the middle school for programs that provide workshops in the evening at the homes with middle school parents, which would bring parents together to talk about these issues with someone from the outside who would follow up with students in school. This really is a community issue - how can we help our students make better decisions and who can they turn to for support?"

To meet requirements from NCLB, Dr. Jackson said two highly qualified teachers were needed at the middle school and high school.

Other staffing recommendations for the middle and high schools include a full-time psychologist, a part-time music teacher and English teacher, and a full-time special education teacher, for an estimated total cost of $171,000.

For the elementary schools, whose enrollment is leveling off, new staff would include a part-time music teacher to be shared by Bedford Village Elementary School and Mount Kisco Elementary School, a full-time special education teacher and a full-time aide for a new special class at Pound Ridge Elementary School, and a full-time aide at Bedford Hills Elementary School. The cost for these new positions would be $147,500.

The district expects to be hit with big-bill items such as the teacher retirement system and the civil service employee retirement system, which are up 3 percent over last year's budget. The teacher retirement system rate is increased to $2.4 million, and the civil service retirement costs are up $260,000 over last year's budget.

Items that were left out of the proposed budget included an internal auditor, a middle school guidance counselor, a high school technology teacher, an elementary school social worker, three building-level custodians, and certain upgrades like phone systems and technology support.

The district is saving $69,350 in BOCES administrative and capita fees, $110,000 on two full-time elementary computer teachers, an $1.5 million in capital project!. Other budget reductions will be see in special education, such as out-of district tuition, $465,000; contract service fees, $145,000; seven aides and two instructional assistant!, which would save the district $186,800, and one full-time specie education learning specialist a $55,000.

Temporary increases during construction at the high school will include $70,000 for two safety monitors for student security an $250,000 additional custodial over time. A 2.5 percent inflation increase for materials, supplies, books, equipment, and contract costs will co! $100,000, $250,000 will be needed for new furniture for newly constructed additions and renovate rooms at Mount Kisco Elementary School and Fox Lane High School and $20,000 for additional ground tractors.

Upgrades in technology will ad up to $185,000. Additional) $45,000 will go to increased database; support, summer clerical support in curriculum and instruction for $10,000, and $19,500 for summer curriculum writing. BOCES occupational education fees will come $242,653.

Key dates for future board sessions

May 17: Vote date.