Preston – The Board of Education unanimously approved a revised $11.4 million school budget for 2016-17 Monday after debating whether the town would accept the proposed 5 percent spending increase, most of which is for fixed tuition and special education costs.

The initial budget reviewed earlier this month called for an 8 percent spending increase. Superintendent John Welch removed proposed kindergarten classroom aides, a part-time science teacher and a new pension plan for employees not covered by union contracts. Welch said the only new staff is the additional 12 work days per year for the district's part-time special education director, at a cost of $6,207.

Overall, 4.5 percent of the increase is for regular and special education tuition, Welch said. The remaining portions of the budget, including staff salaries and operations for the two schools, would increase by 0.5 percent.

Board member Karin Davis expressed concern that the 5 percent increase would be rejected by residents and suggested cutting some spending. But member Cindy Luty argued she wanted to add microscopes to the middle school science labs, calling it “appalling” that three students have to share one microscope.

“Science is not a spectator sport,” Luty argued.

Welch said he could use the existing instructonal equipment line in the budget to purchase the 10 microscopes needed to serve every student in most lab classes.

The budget calls for retaining the local school bus fleet and staff. The Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Preston Plains Middle School to hear a presentation by bus company DATTCO, the low bidder in the recent advertisement for a five-year contract for school bus service. Contracting with DATTCO would save an estimated $51,473 in the 2016-17 school year, which would bring the budget to a 4.5 percent increase.

The board is expect to vote on whether to contract out bus service at its March 14 meeting.

Special education tuition for students placed in out-of town programs is expected to increase by 3.3 percent, or $361,409, to a total of $1.68 million. Welch is projecting 43 special education tuition placements next year.

Preston has experienced an unusual influx of special education students needing outside school programs this year, leading to a projected $400,000 deficit in the budget, Welch said. The school system anticipated having 24 special education placements this year and now has 37, Welch said.

Regular education high school tuition is projected to increase by 1.2 percent next year, with 10 additional students expected to attend Norwich Free Academy, which will have a 2.5 percent tuition increase. Total high school regular education tuition is projected at $1.8 million.

The board unanimously rejected a separate proposed $219,642 capital improvements budget after raising possible changes as a result of touring the middle school prior to Monday's meeting.

The capital budget included updating equipment in two science labs for $82,584, replacing student lockers for $31,718 and replacing bathroom floors for $35,760. Board members expressed a desire to delay the floor improvements to add more funding to the science labs and also questioned whether a proposed $31,000 bus turnaround area at the Preston Veterans' Memorial School would solve safety problems there.

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