Mars Area School Board listened to a brief presentation Tuesday night from Regina Hiler, executive director of Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School, regarding the 2021-22 budget.

The vo-tech is looking at a proposed total operating budget of $6,075,289 for the coming school year. Hiler said this reflects a $122,810 increase.

The vo-tech has a $30,000 budgetary reserve in place for the coming year, according to Hiler.

“Our budgetary reserve is in place for unplanned events,” Hiler said. “The districts are not billed for this, unless of course there is an event as such.”

Hiler said staff salaries and benefits account for about 76% of the vo-tech's budget. This includes all employees, such as substitute teachers.

About $108,911 of the overall budget increase of $122,810 is related to salaries and benefits, according to Hiler.

The proposed budget anticipates a $260,356 allocation in Perkins funding. The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 is specifically designed through the state to enhance career and technical education programs.

Hiler said as Perkins allocations for 2021-22 haven't been released yet, the vo-tech is using the current year's allotment as a basis for next year.

Districts using the vo-tech are billed based on average daily membership for three years. Mars Area's portion of vo-tech tuition is estimated at $220,561 for next year.

“This is a decrease of $23,293 from this school year,” Hiler said.

Megan Lenz, a school board member, said she'd like to see more Mars students consider enrolling in vo-tech programs.

Responding to comments from the school board, Hiler said the vo-tech is tentatively planning ways to expose district families to vo-tech opportunities this summer.

“We want to get the students and parents to be able to actually see the school,” Hiler said. “We'll work with students.”

The board as a whole approved the vo-tech's budget. Per the vo-tech's articles of agreement, members of the board also need to submit individual ballots voting yes or no on the budget.