Salem — The Board of Education voted Monday night to reduce its 2015-16 budget proposal by $82,000 in response to a Board of Finance request.

The board removed a proposed teaching position that would have expanded the seventh- and eighth-grade English language arts program. That lowers expenses by $51,400.

The school board and administrators acknowledged the reduction will mean less of an expansion of the gifted and talented program for seventh- and eighth-graders.

The vote to remove the position — and to reduce spending on custodial staff and an administrative position — passed unanimously, bringing the final budget proposal to $10.65 million.

"There's no fluff involved in your plan. I think your recommendation is laudable. We can't have it both ways, and there are things that are lost and things that are gained," said Chairman Stephen Buck.

Board members and administrators felt it was important to expand early intervention programs.

"We can make the difference when they're little. It's hard to make that difference when they're older," said Interim Assistant Principal Joan Phillips, who said that addressing issues at younger ages would prevent those issues from getting worse. "If this is the only amount of money that we have ... then we have to go with the lower age."

Board member Robert Green agreed, saying that if younger students don't receive the aid and attention early on, "you're going to pay for it in spades later down the road."

As for the seventh- and eighth-grade English program, Phillips and Interim Principal Michael Rafferty told the board they have adjusted the class schedule to add more time to the program, which will give teachers more time for struggling and talented students.

Buck also thanked Phillips, Rafferty and Superintendent Joseph Onofrio for their work in accommodating the Board of Finance's reduction request.

"I think what you're doing is the right way to go," he said.

Other cost savings come from the reduction of a proposed part-time custodian, reduced salary and benefits for the director of student services and the removal of a stipend for a cheerleading coach.

The school board will present its final proposal at a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Town Hall.

The initial $10.8 million proposal put forward in February included $206,000 in new program costs with the majority coming from expansions to the middle school language arts program, the pre-kindergarten program, the reinstatement of a math and language arts interventionist and the addition of a part-time special education teacher. 

j.hopper@theday.com

Twitter: @JessHoppa