Gwinnett County Public Schools in its budget released Tuesday is tackling the fundamental problem faced by many expanding families in tight economic times — stretching limited resources to meet the needs of more children.

Next school year, there will be more than 4,000 new mouths to feed and students to educate. The system will have nearly 160,000 students.

Gwinnett County Schools' proposed budget for 2009 accommodates that growth without cutting back the fundamentals — textbooks, curriculum materials, school supplies and teachers. The fiscal year 2009 budget totals nearly $1.9 billion, a 5.5 percent or $97 million increase from the previous year.

"We are only looking at growing the budget by those expenditures that are tied directly to the students," said Rick Cost, chief financial officer for Gwinnett County Schools.

WHAT'S NEW?

• The capital projects fund budget grows by nearly $42 million to $321.6 million, a 15 percent jump.

• All employees will receive a 2.5 percent pay raise. A beginning teacher's salary will be $38,895. The average teacher will hold a master's degree or higher, have 10 years of experience and earn $54,875.

• $8,278 will be spent per student — $4,365 from the state and $3,913 from local funding.

• 301 new teaching positions will be added to accommodate the growing enrollment and the opening of three new schools: Rosebud, Trip and Puckett's Mill elementary schools. Three more replacement schools will be opened: Lanier Middle/White Oak and Benefield Elementary.

• 68 new bus driver positions will be created. One hundred new school buses were purchased this year in anticipation of fiscal year 2009.

The proposal also includes construction projects that will be paid for through the 1 percent special purpose local option sales tax, or SPLOST. Scheduled to open in August 2009 are North Gwinnett Middle School, Archer High School, Mountain View High School, Twin Rivers Middle School, Bay Creek Middle School, Couch Middle School, Woodward Mill Elementary School, Dyer Elementary School replacement, Starling Elementary School and Benefield Elementary School replacement

SOME PROTECTED PROGRAMS

• Daily planning time for teachers

• Four foreign language interpreters

• Opportunities for accelerated instruction for advanced and gifted students

• Staff development opportunities

WISHES NOT GRANTED

School department heads asked for more than $113 million in improvements. Only $11.2 million was funded. Among the rejects:

• 10 new student resource officers

• Adding a data administrator at all schools

• Establishing an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program in the Norcross Cluster Elementary schools

• Adding an elementary school bookkeeper

WHAT ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES?

The good news: The school system isn't proposing a tax increase. The proposed rate remains at 20.55 mills.

The bad news: Some homeowners may pay more because their homes increased in value due to a reassessment.

PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS

Saturday: School board budget work session in the training center in Gwinnett School's headquarters at 437 Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee.

Tuesday: School board budget work session at Peachtree Ridge High School at 1555 Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee. The board is scheduled to tentatively adopt the budget.

May 5: First public hearing on the budget in the school board meeting room at Gwinnett Schools' headquarters in Suwanee.

May 8: Second public hearing at the Instructional Support Center in Suwanee. The budget is scheduled for final adoption. A tentative millage rate will be set.

June 9: Board of Education meeting at the system's Suwanee headquarters. The school board will adopt the millage rate.

For more information, call 678-301-6000 or visit www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us. The proposed budget has been posted on the school system's Web site.