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03/10/2010 11:00 PMThe Region 4 Board of Education, which oversees John Winthrop Middle School and Valley Regional High School, will propose a $16.8 million budget for the next fiscal year, a proposal that shows an increase of $351,061 when compared to the present budget.
The budget proposal shows $56,794 in upgraded positions and $49,000 in new requests. These include an upgrade of the assistant principal position at John Winthrop from part-time to full-time. The additional cost is $36,690. The athletic director's position is also recommended for an upgrade. The position serves both the middle school and high school and the upgrade is estimated to cost $10,000.
Valley Regional is working to develop a television station and program of its own. It is an extra-curricular activity and will require an advisor and assistant advisor. Each will receive stipends under the terms of the teachers' contract. The position of advisor to the John Winthrop drama club is also being upgraded. In addition, the network technicians at both the middle school and the high school will work an additional 10 days during the next school year.
Most of the funds proposed under new requests deal with maintenance. The board allotted $10,000 for repair and repainting of some rooms at both schools. It has been seven years since the schools were renovated. Eight thousand dollars was allotted to create a tutorial math classroom within a current workroom.
As part of ongoing main-tenance at Valley Regional, the board said it was necessary to repave many areas of the existing driveways and parking lots. In addition, more parking area needs to be created. Originally $45,000 was requested. The board, in its deliberations, cut the request in half to $22,500. The new effort to develop a television station and laboratory at Valley Regional will receive $5,000 for maintenance and equipment, just half of what was requested.
The major cost drivers in this proposed budget included contractual salary increases at $192,179; health benefit increases at $164,797; the Region 4 board's share of the already approved Supervision District budget, an increase of $148,452; and utilities at a $69,600 increase.
While there was a total of $719,218 in increases due to major budget drivers, the board's budget proposal lists $473,951 in reductions. Here, the major reduction was in the cost of out-of-district placements for special education. Debt service showed a decrease of $61,508; retirements as a result of the retirement incentive program resulted in a reduction of $37,178; and there was a reduction of a social worker position.
This proposed budget will go to a district-wide public hearing on April 8 at 7 p.m. at the middle school. The Region 4 board, after hearing comments at the public hearing, may choose to amend this proposal or to recommend it without changes. As in years past, the budget will be presented to taxpayers in all three towns at a referendum in early May.
When approved, the Region 4 budget is divided among the three towns, based on the total number of students each town sends to the two regional schools.