The Aventura City Commission gave its final approval May 5 to a $7.05 million budget for the city's charter school that increases staffing and pupil levels for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The plan presented to commissioners April 23 by City Manager Eric Soroka calls for phasing in the soon-to-be-completed additional classrooms over a two-year period. The city's Capital Improvement Program had called for all 10 classrooms to open for the 2009-10 school year.

Only kindergarten through Grade 3 would see new space this August, allowing the seven-year-old charter school to accept eight more students at each of those levels. The school has a waiting list of 226 children for kindergarten, 117 for first grade, 106 for second grade and 87 for third grade.

The school budget reflects a 3.6 percent increase in state funding after last year's cutbacks. But that figure that could change once the legislature passes a state budget. The Aventura plan anticipates payments of $5,577,400 or $5,980 per student.  The revenue picture is bolstered by $100,000 in new funds from the city's Red Light Violation Program. However, a $2 surcharge would be imposed on all school uniforms under the plan. 

The overall budget projects a 22 percent decrease in spending, reflecting completion of the classroom expansion capital project. Still, the school's contingency fund would be reduced $50,000 and a scheduled $30,000 transfer to the city's general fund would be waived to balance the budget.

Spending for grades 4-8 would be down about $10,000 while spending on grades K-3 would be up $270,000, reflecting the new classrooms.  

The largest item is Personnel Service at $4,571,109. Seven teachers would be added but one Literacy Team position and two part-time classroom assistants would be eliminated. The total payroll for 2009-10 would be 82 full-time employees and 13 part-time employees.

The charter school has posted four consecutive 'A' grades in state evaluations dating back to the 2004-05 year. The school also has posted four consecutive years in which 100 percent of parents had completed the 20 hours of required volunteer work.

New classrooms are due for completion this summer, allowing Aventura Charter School to add news students in grades K-3.