Superintendent of Schools Leanne Masterjoseph presented to the Board of Education Jan. 12 a proposed $33.2 million budget for the 2012 – 2013 fiscal year. Over the next several Thursdays, the Board will deliberate on the budget, with the goal to approve at its February meeting a proposed budget to present to the town’s Board of Finance.
The superintendent’s budget represents a 4.1 percent bottom line increase and includes some proposals aimed at tackling some of the system’s most significant challenges. Among these is providing more math support to both elementary and middle school students, restoring a full schedule for high school athletics that has been reduced in recent years and adding a summer academy for certain high school students who are disengaged from the educational process. Also, added mental health support is recommended at Mystic Middle School, as is a part-time world language teacher at the high school.
The Board recognizes the general economy has not yet rebounded fully, but had asked the superintendent to bring forward a budget proposal that strives to best meet the Board’s goals and the needs of all the town’s students.
Please join us in upcoming weeks as we deliberate on this important issue.
