The Avon Local Schools approved its 2012 fiscal forecast that projects the district will hire around 27 new teachers over the next five years at the board of education’s Tuesday meeting at Heritage North Elementary School.

Ten teachers are projected to be hired in 2013, 5½ for 2014 and 2015, and six in 2016 in order to align with school’s anticipated growth at the middle- and high-school levels, board treasurer Kent Zeman said.

“This district has the lowest expenditure per people in the state. While that’s a good thing on the budgetary side, it doesn’t always translate to a good thing on the instructional side,” Zeman said. “I think this board is recognizing that we need to ensure that our instruction is appropriate for our students.”

Also, the district will sign a Lorain County-wide initiative to support college preparation for students. Outgoing superintendent Jim Reitenbach said the district might receive federal grant money, and all 13 school districts in the county will sign the letter.