A new middle-school math curriculum and two computer technology teachers will be added to the Scarborough schools if the budget proposed by the Board of Education passes muster.

The Board of Education on March 19 unanimously approved a final budget of $35.5 million, about a 1.17 percent increase from last year’s 35.1 million budget.

The proposal now goes to the Town Council and will in some form eventually face a townwide vote.

The increase includes $40,000 for a curriculum called Impact Math that would enable Scarborough students to complete algebra by the end of eighth grade. Some $110,000 would cover hiring the technology teachers and upgrading the technology department, allowing the school to have computer classes again.

The budget also calls for adding a half-time social worker and supporting and expanding an English as a Second Language, or ESL, program.

“We are very happy with this budget,” said Scarborough Board of Education member Annalee Rosenblatt, who also served on the finance committee. “We feel this is a fiscally responsible budget.”

Scarborough has not had computer classes for several years, Rosenblatt said. The Board of Education cut them from its 2007-2008 budget, but kept it in this year to help move the schools in the “right direction,” Rosenblatt said.

“I was shocked to learn that we didn’t have computer classes taught at the schools,” Rosenblatt said. “It was something that definitely needed to change.”

The budget does not include any layoffs, Superintendent David Doyle said. Layoffs were a possibility until the $787 billion federal stimulus package passed in late February, filling a $781,000 void created by a state cutback. The stimulus package repays that money and schools can roll it over into next year’s budget.

“That helped us out tremendously,” Doyle said. “We would’ve been forced to make cuts if that money couldn’t have been used for next year.”

Several retirements, totaling about $680,000 in wages, will save some money. The school district either won’t fill some of those positions, or will hire new teachers at lower pay, Doyle said.

“We found ourselves lucky in that aspect,” Doyle said. “A lot of school districts, unfortunately, can’t say that.”

The budget also meets the Town Council’s mandate to not raise property taxes, said Town Manager Tom Hall.

“I commend the school board with this budget because I know it’s not easy,” Hall said. “We gave them a directive and they met it.”

The Town Council hopes to send the school budget to referendum by May 12, Hall said.

Rosenblatt said she believes the proposed budget will go to referendum virtually as is.

“We responded to the Town Council with the budget that they asked for,” she said. “I can’t believe they would cut it any further.”

The town is facing a projected $30 million revenue loss from decreasing property valuations.

To lift some of the burden, Scarborough police recently agreed to forgo their 3.5 percent contractual cost-of living wage.

Doyle is currently in contract negotiations with the schools unions that include teachers, custodians, administrators, health staff and bus drivers, he said.

Those employees’ contracts are up and Doyle said he hopes some concessions will be made, but he couldn’t go into detail as the contract negotiations are in executive sessions.