EAST LYME SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES BUDGET REDUCTIONS

East Lyme — The Board of Education approved this week a list of reductions to account for a $225,000 cut to its proposed 2017-18 budget by the Board of Finance in April.

The school board had proposed a $46,793,609 budget for 2017-18, or a 2.88 percent increase. The finance board reduced the spending plan to $46,568,609, or a 2.38 percent increase.

Superintendent Jeffrey Newton said the school district realized the largest savings — projected at $64,996 — from an early retirement incentive plan. Overall, 15 teachers participated in the program, with a retirement date of June 30.

To further make up for the $225,000 cut to its proposed budget, the board approved reducing 5.66 paraprofessional positions across the district after re-assessing student needs for next year, he said. The reductions came through attrition, with people retiring or moving to new jobs.

Additional reductions include a secretary position at Central Office, also through attrition, as the school district has implemented a new information management system; a part-time library assistant position at the high school that was not filled this year; and fewer hours for a high school teacher, which will mean two or three fewer art classes, with less student demand next year, according to Newton.

Newton said school officials presented a fairly low budget with a 2.88 percent increase and had told the Board of Finance that the $225,000 cut would mean staff reductions. He said there was nowhere else in the budget to cut.