The mayor and the City Council can expect to get something this spring they haven’t seen for as long as most of them can remember: a level-funded budget request from the School Committee.

That’s not official yet, but Superintendent Philip Thornton says that’s his objective – and he believes it’s possible, even building in appropriations for a new teacher contract when, and if, an agreement is reached.

The administration’s budget will go to the committee on April 13. It will call for universal full-day kindergarten in the system, the hiring of additional social workers that Thornton has made a priority, and the initiation of middle school sports. Under the capital improvements program – upgrades to be made with the use of school bonds – the department will replace wooden seats in the Pilgrim and Vets auditoriums, replace the aging and collapsing steam heating system at Vets with a natural gas, roof-top heating and air conditioning system, and in cooperation with the city improve Pilgrim playing fields.

Yet, what could be the most notable achievement of the budget from the standpoint of the taxpayers is that it might be done without a larger budget outlay from Warwick taxpayers. That would be music to the ears of the mayor and council members, who annually at this time of year grill the committee over the budget and often disagree among themselves whether to once again level fund schools. The classic argument ranges between the community’s failure to pump new investment into its schools and future and the handling of school finances – where frequently, after yelling they’re in the poor house, the department ends the year with a surplus.

Anthony Ferrucci, school chief budget officer, said yesterday that the department would request $119,482,464 in city funding or the same appropriation as the current year. As for the overall budget, Ferrucci is waiting for state aid numbers. Currently, the school budget is $163.2 million.

Whether level funded or not, however, the budget will reflect the most dramatic change in Warwick schools in decades with the consolidation of secondary schools. Both Gorton and Aldrich junior high schools will close, as will Vets High School. Over the summer, improvements including the heating and cooling system will be made at Vets, with the school opening this fall as a junior high school. In the fall of 2017, both Vets and Winman will be transformed into middle schools with grades six through eight. Also, by that time, Thornton aims to have in place a plan to further consolidate elementary schools with the closing of two to three schools.

It’s the secondary consolidation plan that’s underpinning a level funded budget request this year. In an interview last week, Thornton said he is working under the assumption that the city administration will abide by its commitment that the department can keep the savings generated by consolidation. According to Thornton’s plan, closing Gorton and Aldrich and reducing staff by almost 50 would save in excess of $4 million.

Key to the workforce reduction is the scheduling of classes and the teachers’ contract.

Scheduling for the next academic year is nearing completion. Thornton sees this as essential for teachers to know where they are going to be next year, if still working for the system. He hopes to have answers for teachers by mid-April, although under revised state law, allowing for school departments to finalize their budgets, layoff notices can be issued as late as June 1.

“I would certainly like to do that,” he said of issuing notices prior to June 1.

But a battle over layoffs looms.

Under the teacher contract that expired last August, the department is limited to laying off 20 teachers. The union maintains it continues to work under the provisions of the former contract including the layoff clause. Thornton says the layoff restriction no longer applies and he is doing what must be done to run the system. He remains hopeful a contract can be reached by the time school opens in the fall.

He pins his optimism on ongoing teacher-school mediation. Thus far, he said, mediators have covered four of the 10 issues raised by the committee, including grading, common planning time, educational material, and coaching.

He acknowledges “the biggest piece” – actually, there are two – are layoffs and the weighting of students making up more than 20 percent of enrollment with IEPs, individual education programs. These students are counted as more than one student when calculating classroom size that is set by the contract, thus requiring the department to create additional classes and hire more teachers.

Thornton has answered criticism that elimination of weighting would result in crowded classrooms and hurt special needs students, saying the department would follow state and federal guidelines regarding students with IEPs. Also, it is argued the special needs students would be given a more inclusive education.

For once in decades, it appears the political budget debate won’t be centered on school demands for more money. Rather, for once, it could be focused on what’s happening in Warwick schools and how best to prepare the next generation for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.