By Chuck Friedbauer

District 112 reading and math test scores by students in fourth- through ninth-grade on the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test, were equal to or greater than the national median for the next grade level. The test was taken last school year by all students in second- through ninth-grade. Teachers will review the test data throughout the summer to determine how it fits with their curriculum. Their analysis will also include results from the MCA-II tests, which fulfills the federal No Child Left Behind program, when they are released later this summer. The District 112 school board has approved the district’s budget for the fiscal year 2009. State statutes require school budgets to be adopted prior to July 1 each year. Estimated expenses are $183,350,288, while estimated revenues are $124,509,841, with the majority of the difference from the construction of Chanhassen High School. “We received our revenue for the school when we sold the bonds, but we still have to pay the bills,” said District 112 Steve Pumper. The budget provides for an estimated 5.06 percent unreserved fund balance, which meets the school board policy of maintaining that balance between 5 and 9 percent of one year’s operating expenses.Significant parameters of the budget include $2,728,000 to support anticipated increases in wage and benefit costs for employees, $783,000 for computer and phone technology upgrades, $725,000 to complete the adoption of a new kindergarten though 12th-grade language arts curriculum and $506,000 for inflationary increases in utilities, transportation and other non-personnel items.Jason Soe has been named the new District 112 school board student representative, replacing the graduated Pat Sharkey. Sam Peterson is the returning student representative.