On Tuesday, 2/13, the Board of Education voted to approve a budget of $98,122,266 for the 2018/19 school year.
This budget represents an increase of 2.34% from the current year. The board and district administration reviewed many potential areas for expense reduction and in the end cut $607,207 from the Superintendent’s original proposed budget. The majority of those cuts come from refinements to line items like legal fees, fuel oil, consultant services and computer equipment. While there was a lot of public concern about a potential cut to athletics, the board overwhelmingly voted to maintain all funding for JV and Freshman sports. The art and music funding was fully supported as well.
The next step in the budget approval process is for the budget to be reviewed by the Board of Finance. There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, March 13th at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium.
Parents are encouraged to attend to express their support of the budget and we are encouraging Holmes School parents to attend in support of two items in the budget: funding for a new roof for the school and a new skylight for the school gymnasium. Look for more details of this meeting in early March.
If you have any questions, contact your PTO Chairs Hope Barton and Sara Parent or your CDSP Representative Jennifer Woodbury.