Waterford school board backs budget with $1 million in added spending
Waterford — The Board of Education on Thursday night unanimously approved a $48.3 million budget for the 2018-19 school year, an increase of slightly more than $1 million compared to current spending.
Proposed earlier this month by Superintendent Tom Giard, the spending plan calls for a 2.15 percent increase largely driven by contractual raises, health insurance and student transportation.
The school board, which in two budget workshops this month debated staff levels and costs, suggested no changes to Giard's proposal.
Administrators said the budget maintained or expanded academic programs, preserved athletics and continued planned building maintenance. Giard recently said the proposal was "mindful of the challenging economic context, but still allows our district to progress."
After Thursday's meeting, Giard said he was pleased to see the budget move smoothly through the board.
"At this point it becomes the board's budget," he said. "At 2 percent, that's pretty good in this day and age."
Administrators will send the budget to the town's Board of Finance next week, with an official presentation before that group set for March 21.
About three-quarters of the proposed increase stem from contractual obligations, including almost $826,000 in teacher and support staff raises and employee benefits.
Slightly more than a quarter of the increase, roughly $128,000, includes expenditures for software, field trips, maintenance and repairs, equipment, books and supplies.
The proposed budget comes a few months after officials approved new contracts with the teachers' and administrators' unions that go into effect in the 2018-19 fiscal year. Both deals switched to cheaper high-deductible health care plans, and the new contract with the teachers' union slashed top salaries by 4 percent, Giard said.
As teachers retire or leave the district, the savings compared to costs in the expiring contract will multiply. Giard estimates the district's savings to rack up to at least $8 million over the next 20 years.
The budget includes a $171,000 decrease in tuition the district must pay for students choosing to attend magnet schools or out-of-district special education programs. Administrators said they've convinced more parents to send their children to Waterford schools by expanding a pre-K program and successfully marketing district programs in direct mail campaigns, advertising and social media.
Revenue is projected to drop by about $81,686, to $2.63 million. State aid is projected to increase from $305,215 to $322,838.
The Representative Town Meeting will vote on the school and town budgets in May.
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