Salem — The Board of Education has approved a 1.3 percent increase for the 2017-18 school year budget.

The final number of $10.84 million, approved Monday night, reflected a decrease from Superintendent Joseph Onofrio II's initial proposed budget of $10.94 million, a 2.63 percent increase.

Changes from his budget included adjusted tuition costs with East Lyme High School and a significant decrease in out-of-district special education tuition. Salem sends its high school students to East Lyme.

Over the course of several meetings, board members stressed the need to make the budget process as transparent as possible for the Board of Finance and the town.

Sean Reith, who serves as the liaison to the finance board, said they are concerned about additional cuts in state funding, and the school board will have to make clear what the school needs versus what it wants.

The ratio of students to teachers was a concern last year when drafting the current school year's budget as the Board of Finance cited dropping enrollment but steady staffing numbers.

But Salem saw kindergarten enrollment jump from a projection of 29 to 47 between June and November, requiring the emergency hiring of an additional kindergarten teacher and instructional aide. The third kindergarten teacher will be maintained in the 2017-18 budget while a sixth-grade teacher position will be removed due to smaller class sizes.

The school also is budgeting to hire an additional special education teacher to support students with individualized education plans.

Donna Gittleman, director of student services, said there are 20 additional special education students this year, which is already more than one person's typical case load.

The Board of Education will present the $10.84 million budget to the Board of Finance at 7 p.m. on March 9.