NORTON -- Future accreditation of Norton High School could depend on passing a Proposition 2 1 / sub 2 override at town meeting next month, according to school officials who announced this week that the school has been put on warning by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Based on site visits from last October, the association issued a lengthy letter that outlines three areas out of seven that need improve ment: standards on curriculum, assessment of student learning, and community resources for learning.

Most of the problems involve cur riculum and organizational measures that he has been implementing over this school year, Principal Raymond Dewar said.

But others are more problematic, including computer availability, inad equate gym space, limited staffing and poor ventilation.

`` The things involving money are difficult for us to address because we don't have any,'' Dewar said. `` If we're unable to address (these prob lems) the consequence is most likely probation.'' A warning is the first step in the process. If a school doesn't meet improvements before the next sched uled inspection, it could be put on probation.

After that, a school faces loss of accreditation.

Approval of the school depart ment's budget -- which will go before residents at next month's annual town meeting -- could go a long way in helping.

Superintendent Patricia Ansay said some of the association's recom mendations have been worked into the budget, since she and Dewar had the site report months ago.

Some items included in the budget are new textbooks, updating technol ogy and more professional develop ment days.

It is not clear how much of the school's budget for next year will be included in the supplemental budget article at town meeting.

If approved, funding would come from raising the town's tax levy beyond its allowable 2 1 / sub 2 percent.

Ansay has had several meetings with the finance committee since selectmen voted in February to put the matter to town meeting, but there has been no official dollar amount attached to the budget.

The school committee has approved a budget of $24.9 million, up 9.4 percent from last year and about $1.6 million more than what the town had allotted for the school department.

Without that extra money, Ansay said, the department would have to make cuts in staff and student programs, among other things. `` It's safe to say if the proposed budget is not approved, you will (see) those cuts,'' she said.

Another point of concern for the high school is the `` misperception by some members of the community that the school has adequate resources and can operate effectively on a limited budget'' and `` an inadequate budget which limits vision for what the school can become.''

Dewar's concern about the budget not passing is that any staff cuts would be immediately reported to the accreditation association.

The high school has until April 1, 2007, to submit a special progress report detailing how the 11 recommendations have been addressed. That is in addition to the standard, two-year progress report each high school submits.

Dewar and Ansay hope that the school will be taken off warning status by then.

`` I think this highlights that a quality education is a community endeavor,'' Ansay said.

The association's site visit report is available on the Internet at www.norton.mec.edu.