Oxford School Officials Schedule Public Forums on Budget Proposal

(Editor’s note: We published this story earlier in the week, but here it is in case you missed it)

The Oxford Board of Education’s $28.6 million budget for fiscal 2015-16 includes a $964,924 increase or a 3.5 percent spending hike.

The budget includes $136,738 for the implementation of a full-day kindergarten program beginning next year.

Superintendent of Schools Ana Ortiz and School Board Chairwoman Amy Cote plan to hold a series of question and answer sessions concerning the budget beginning 7:30 p.m. April 23 at Quaker Farms School, reports Paul Singley, of the Republican-American.

Other sessions are in the works. Officials say the biggest driver of the increase is contractually obligated salaries and health insurance costs.

The teachers’ union received a new contract and salaries are increasing by $395,780 or 3.27 percent next year, the Rep-Am reports.

But despite the salary increases, teachers are contributing more toward their health care costs.

Read the full Rep-Am story here.