NORTH ATTLEBORO - Adding another $160,000 to the school department's budget may be the most controversial issue on Monday's town meeting agenda, which is heavy with union contracts, revolving fund requests and street acceptances.

Representative Town Meeting will weigh in on the town's $71 million budget for the coming fiscal year. Department requests total $4.8 million more than is available in revenue, so it will not be surprising if departments approach RTM seeking a fiscal boost.

The school department is already planning to increase its allotment by $160,000 to stop a redistricting plan that would shift 27 elementary students to new schools.

Under the redistricting plan, eight fourth-grade students at Community School will be transferred to Falls School next year. Another 19 students at Amvet Boulevard School in grades 3, 4 and 5, would be transferred to Roosevelt school to balance class sizes.

With an additional $160,000, the school department would be able to rehire four laid-off elementary school teachers and prevent the transfer of students. The money will likely be requested from the town's savings account - known as the stabilization fund - which requires a two-thirds majority vote for approval.

However, the school committee plans to advocate for postponing discussion on the town budget until June's special town meeting, as has been done in the past.

The school department also is seeking money for two other projects that have previously been rejected by town meeting.

A plan to upgrade fire alarms at eight of the town's schools at a cost of $380,000 will also be up for discussion. The cost has been whittled down since January, when an article was submitted seeking $475,000. That article was rejected so that the upgrades could be discussed with the fire chief.

The school department is also back with another request for $52,500 for locks on classrooms, assembly areas and offices that do not currently have them. That request was also rejected in January, when the finance committee argued the locks were not mandated by the state. This time, the board voted in favor of the proposal.

While the school department anticipates requesting about $400,000 to cover a shortfall in this year's special education budget, that will be put off until at least June at the finance committee's request.

Another article that might generate discussion is a proposal by selectmen regarding the LeStage property on High Street. With a survey plan complete, selectmen hope RTM will agree to separate a 3.7-acre parcel around the LeStage house and barn from the surrounding property. Once that is done, the town will be able to accept proposals for use or sale of the property - though any sale would have to be approved by the RTM at a later time.

In addition, the board of public work's is seeking to keep jurisdiction over its own building projects. The board wants to be the awarding authority for any rehabilitation, remodeling or repair projects related to water and sewer infrastructure, arguing that those buildings have complicated mechanical systems that require technical knowledge.

Currently, the municipal building committee has jurisdiction over all building projects in town costing $75,000 or more.

Most of the other requests on the 40-article warrant seek to set up revolving funds. For example, the building inspector's office is seeking to renew revolving funds for inspection fees so that 75 percent of the fees collected can be paid to inspectors.

Some of the revolving fund requests were rejected by the finance committee because of legal and technical impediments.

May's annual town meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the North Attleboro Middle School cafetorium.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.