The Up-Island Regional School District (UIRSD) school committee held a budget meeting Monday night at Chilmark School. The latest version of the fiscal year 2016 (FY16) operational/capital budget was increased by $692,838.59, or 6.99 percent, for a total of $10,602,639. The estimated assessments to the district’s member towns of Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisburytotal $10,564,369, an increase of $783,285.59 or 8 percent.
The school committee reviewed the Chilmark School site budget in detail. At the suggestion of committee member Robert Lionette of Chilmark, the committee agreed to reconsider adding a part-time math enrichment teacher, which West Tisbury School has, at Chilmark School. He suggested that Susan Stevens use West Tisbury School’s criteria to determine how many students at Chilmark School would qualify for the program and if there is a need for it.
The school committee also resumed discussion about a School Resource Officer (SRO) and voted to take the money previously put toward the position, $65,000, out of the budget. The committee agreed that West Tisbury School principal Donna Lowell-Bettencourt would meet with West Tisbury Police Chief Dan Rossi to discuss his department assuming responsibility for the position and to determine what arrangement would work best.
After a presentation from Ms. Lowell-Bettencourt about a proposed playground project for West Tisbury School, the committee voted to spend $18,000 to $18,520 for plans and a design from School Choice funds. Ms. Lowell-Bettencourt said that she applied for Community Preservation Committee funds from the three up-Island towns, and will look at fundraising, as well. Other funding will be requested through town warrant articles, based on percentages in the school district’s regional formula.
The school committee also agreed that the West Tisbury School bathrooms should be renovated completely, and asked Ms. Lowell-Bettencourt to get quotes on how much the work will cost. Funding will be requested through town meeting warrant articles next spring. The school committee’s next meeting is on December 15 at the West Tisbury School.