City School Budget Talks Are Opened

Preliminary talks on a 1970-71 Ann Arbor Public Schools budget were held last night by the Ann Arbor Board of Education during a briefing session. Last week, School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. indicated that a millage proposal ranging from 3 to 6 5 milis may be put on the ballot this June- depending on the amount of a contract settlement with the Ann Arbor Education Association and the number of program improvements the board approves. Further budget deliberations will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at a special board session. School Board President Harold J. Lockett urged that the 1970-71 budget include more funds for children with learning problems and those who are considered "perplexing problems" for the school district. These children must be helped early or 'our problems will continue to grow," Lockett said. Trustee Ted Heusel said he could not enthusiastically support any budget which does not include. more funds to deal with discipline problems, which Heusel said is the "biggest item" facing the school district today. "This is more important than teacher raises and many other things," Heusel declared. He said that many discipline problems are caused by children who are academie "underachievers," and he endotsed special programs for these youngsters. Vice President Charles H. Good asked for a list of program deletions and alternatives if no additional money is approved by the voters. The board hopes to adopt a tentative budget on April 1. April 22 is the likely meeting date for setting a millage proposal and a bonding issue for the June 8 election. A spring bonding issue is expected to include funds for a third senior high school.