Stonington school board approves 2.88% school budget increase
Stonington — The Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved a proposed 2020-21 budget that calls for a 2.88%, or $1.1 million, increase in spending.
That is less than the initial budget presented by Superintendent of Schools Van Riley, which called for a 3.48% increase. Since then, school officials have worked to lower the hike.
The board now will send the proposed $39.7 million budget to the Board of Finance for approval. In November the Board of Finance recommended to school officials that they have no increase in the proposed 2020-21 budget.
The board also heard from high school crew team coach John Thornell, who asked the board to use $2,800 from the current budget and $4,200 in the 2020-21 budget to rent a truck to haul crew equipment to competitions. The team’s current pickup continues to break down.
The team, which raised $102,000 this season, is mostly self-funded by athletes and parents who pay to participate and hold fundraisers. The school budget allocates funds for three coaches.
The board’s Finance Subcommittee now will consider a transfer of money in the current budget, while the board will look at sports funding needs for all teams.
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