Stonington - For the second month in a row, Superintendent of Schools Van Riley presented the school board with updated projections Thursday about how the potential increase in the 2015-16 budget compares to the 2 percent or $685,000 increase suggested by the Board of Finance.

Again, the news was not good.

Riley said it would require a 3.6 percent or $1.2 million more just to pay for increases in salaries, health insurance and electricity, the latter of which accounts for almost $500,000 of the increase.

In all, he said, it would take a 6.1 percent or $2.1 million increase, three times that suggested by the finance board, to not only pay for these items but to retain current class sizes, provide required special education services, replace outdated textbooks and materials and add a middle school assistant principal, make a part-time technology assistant full time and purchase a human resources database.

"I want you and the community to know where we are," Riley said.

He offered detailed explanations of each increase.

For example, he said, the school system is "years behind" in updating its outdated textbooks and teaching materials. His proposal calls for $97,245 to begin the replacements.

"This is a need. Our students need this, not something that is 20 years old, outdated and doesn't meet standards set by the state," he said.

Riley is slated to present his proposed budget to the school board next month.

Before his presentation, several residents urged the board to present a budget to the finance board that provides for the needs of students and not cut it beforehand to meet the finance board target, as it tried to do with the current budget.

"You need to present what the students need and not what the board of finance wants," said teacher and parent Bruce Yarnell, listing the programs that no longer exist because of budget cuts. "Put forth a budget that we as the schools need to educate our students."

"Please be an advocate for us and keep the pressure on them," he added. "We're not even treading water now. We're sinking."

Parent Harriet Statchen pointed out that finance board Chairman Glenn Frishman has said his board will listen to arguments for an increase greater than 2 percent.

"We should take him at his word and present our arguments," she told the school board.

Parent Amy Hambly said it isn't the place of the finance board to dictate a percentage increase without first having a budget proposal.

"Your job is to present a sound budget that is needed to get the job done," she told the school board. "You have to represent the students and faculty."

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas