Rutland Herald
By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | March 05,2013
STAFF WRITER | March 05,2013
Anthony Edwards / Staff Photo
Killington residents gather at the Killington Elementary School on Monday evening to discuss the school's budget.
KILLINGTON — Blame it on the weather or
perhaps the utter lack of controversy, but about two dozen voters
approved the budget for the Killington Elementary School on Monday
afternoon.
“It’s so nice to see those of you who are not with us today,” joked Loren Pepe, Killington Elementary School’s principal, as she looked out on a mostly empty gymnasium and an audience microphone that went unused during the 30-minute meeting.
Those voters who did brave snow showers to come to the meeting — which preceded a lasagna dinner fundraiser organized by the Sherburne United Church of Christ and an informational town meeting prior to today’s voting by Australian ballot — approved a budget of $1,562,312 for fiscal year 2013-14.
The budget is an increase of $61,489, or 4.1 percent, more than the current budget of $1,500,823.
Rather than field nonexistent questions from the audience, Pepe touted her school’s recent scores on the New England Common Assessment Program’s test. Ninety-two percent of students scored proficient or better in reading; 85 percent for math, 73 percent for science and 100 percent for writing. All of these scores are above the state average.
School Board Chairwoman Jennifer Iannantuoni — who was re-elected in an uncontested race to another three-year term on the board — discussed some of the finances of the school. Teacher salaries are increasing 2 percent, while insurance is up 14 percent, a common driver of school budget increases this year.
Iannantuoni said during the past three years, the school has seen tuition revenues increase by $65,000. Tuition students now compose 40 percent of the student body, she said.
Plymouth Elementary School closed its doors in 2010.
In another uncontested race, Eileen Godfrey was re-elected to a three-year term on the board of the Woodstock Union High School and Middle School.
Voters also approved an article establishing a health care reserve fund, which will be paid for with existing funds.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
“It’s so nice to see those of you who are not with us today,” joked Loren Pepe, Killington Elementary School’s principal, as she looked out on a mostly empty gymnasium and an audience microphone that went unused during the 30-minute meeting.
Those voters who did brave snow showers to come to the meeting — which preceded a lasagna dinner fundraiser organized by the Sherburne United Church of Christ and an informational town meeting prior to today’s voting by Australian ballot — approved a budget of $1,562,312 for fiscal year 2013-14.
The budget is an increase of $61,489, or 4.1 percent, more than the current budget of $1,500,823.
Rather than field nonexistent questions from the audience, Pepe touted her school’s recent scores on the New England Common Assessment Program’s test. Ninety-two percent of students scored proficient or better in reading; 85 percent for math, 73 percent for science and 100 percent for writing. All of these scores are above the state average.
School Board Chairwoman Jennifer Iannantuoni — who was re-elected in an uncontested race to another three-year term on the board — discussed some of the finances of the school. Teacher salaries are increasing 2 percent, while insurance is up 14 percent, a common driver of school budget increases this year.
Iannantuoni said during the past three years, the school has seen tuition revenues increase by $65,000. Tuition students now compose 40 percent of the student body, she said.
Plymouth Elementary School closed its doors in 2010.
In another uncontested race, Eileen Godfrey was re-elected to a three-year term on the board of the Woodstock Union High School and Middle School.
Voters also approved an article establishing a health care reserve fund, which will be paid for with existing funds.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
Vito
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