Financial issues dominated the monthly meeting of the Crocker board, on May 19.

Consultant Brendell Deamer, a certified public accountant, briefed members on the preliminary budget for the 2012-13 school year. The move to a new building and addition of a fourth-grade class bring the most significant cost increases, Deamer said. These include maintenance of a large heating and cooling system, hiring security guards and additional custodial staff, and higher utility bills.

Many of these expenses will be split with Encore Academy, which shares the building at 2301 Marengo St.

In addition, a $40 per student increase in insurance will add $10,000 in annual costs.

Total spending was put at $1.8 million for the current year. Preliminary, projected spending for 2012-2013 is listed at $2.1 million, with revenues expected to be $2.3 million, a $200,000 decrease compared to the 2011-12 year.

Principal Charmaine Robertson said she plans to hire two fourth-grade teachers, a kindergarten teacher, and a pre-kindergarten teacher. She is also looking for two summer school teachers for third-graders.

Crocker foots the bill for the summer school program to boost student performance. This year’s session will be June 4-24.

The meeting ran from 11:09 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

Crocker’s next board meeting as well as the final budget hearing will be June 23 at 11:00 a.m.