UPDATED: Preston school board approves budget with 2.95% increase

Mar. 23—PRESTON — The Board of Education on Monday approved the proposed $12.6 million school budget for 2021-22, a 2.95% increase over the current budget, but with few changes to staffing and programs.

Most of the increases are for salaries, health insurance coverage and other fixed costs. The board did accept Superintendent Roy Seitsinger's proposal to add a third fourth-grade teacher to split the large two current third-grade classes into three classes next school year.

The budget is $369,739 more than the current budget. Salaries would increase by $267,586, and health insurance costs are up by $129,604. High school tuition is projected to drop by $79,902 due to declining enrollment, especially at Norwich Free Academy. Special education costs are projected to drop by $36,649, but the budget includes three new paraeducators required for special education.

The budget adds one fourth teacher to split two current third-grade classes of 23 students each into three classes. Other staffing and programs would remain the same, Seitsinger said.

Seitsinger plans to use federal COVID-19 relief grants to cover what otherwise would be an additional $318,618 in spending due to the pandemic. The federal money cannot be used to replace regular budget costs.

The federal grant will be used to increase the school district's part-time social worker to full time. Under the plan, Preston will pay for 60% of social worker Jessica Boucher's $68,691 salary, and the grant will pay for the remaining 40%. Boucher already is covered in the district's health insurance plan.

Seitsinger told the board some of the federal grant will carry over for two more years, so the district could continue the full-time social worker if the board wishes. The social worker position was created in the 2019-20 school year as a part-time position, although Seitsinger and some board members have wanted to make the position full time.

Seitsinger plans to use the federal COVID-19 relief grants for an expanded summer program offered to all Preston students in preschool through seventh grade that includes a partnership with Mystic Seaport for one day a week at the museum.

The grants also will pay for some technology upgrades and some cleaning and maintenance costs. Seitsinger said the past year of remote and hybrid learning have shown that technology is as essential as "heat and lights."

c.bessette@theday.com

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