AUBURN —  The School Committee learned Wednesday night that health insurance costs for school staff will be about $400,000 less than expected in 2018-19.

The increase will be 1.2 percent, not 9 percent as projected.

School Committee members will decide how to handle the savings as they work on a proposed $44.1 million budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Superintendent Katy Grondin said options include:

• Reducing local property taxes further than the proposed budget, which calls for a 2.6 percent increase, or $34.50 more a year for a $150,000 property;

• Taking less money out of the savings account (fund balance) to support this year’s spending; and

• Spending about $300,000 on unmet needs, and using $100,000 to reduce the property tax impact and/or reduce reliance on the fund balance.

The committee could pursue a combination of those options.

One of the possibilities outlined by Grondin is to spend $285,000 for elementary guidance counselors at Franklin School and Fairview Elementary School, plus additional elementary teachers to help youngsters who are behind at Sherwood and Park Avenue schools.

Technology Director Peter Robinson said another proposal is to trade in Apple iPads in the elementary grades for ones that can be shared, sell the old iPads and get on a four-year cycle to provide and replace laptop computers for elementary teachers.

The committee is also looking at spending $15,000 to equip buses with GPS devices. Grondin said that cost is high, however, and she is looking to reduce it.

Business Manager Adam Hanson also said there is concern with maintaining the savings account.

According to a chart provided to the committee, the account has $1.11 million and $636,305 of it is designated for the 2018-19 budget.

Hanson said it leaves a balance of $480,109. That is about 1 percent of the school budget, “which is not a great place to be,” Hanson said, adding that the city must be prepared in case of unplanned expenses.

Committee Chairman Tom Kendall asked for feedback on what members want to do.

Faith Fontaine and Bonnie Hayes said they favor using some of the $400,000 on unmet needs, and some put in the savings account.

Daniel Poisson Sr. and City Councilor Alfreda Fournier, the mayor’s representative on the committee, favored tax relief.

Member Robert Mennealy said he would be comfortable adding staff positions, such as guidance, as long as the increase is not more than 2 percent.

Edward Little High School Spanish teacher Marisa Moreau said instead of hiring elementary instructional coaches, Auburn should hire more teachers to reduce class sizes.

Her honors Spanish class has 28 students.

“I can’t do honors work” with that number of students, she said. Large class sizes are unfair to teachers and students, Moreau said.

Committee members are scheduled to vote on the budget May 2.

After that, the budget goes to the City Council, then to a public referendum June 12.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com