School Budget Slated for 3.5 Percent Hike

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Salaries, all-day kindergarten, and special education costs are three of the reasons why the proposed Foxborough's fiscal year 2018 school budget has a 3.53 percent increase.

The budget, discussed at Monday night's Foxborough School Committee meeting, comes in at about $34 million and has a total increase of about $1.1 million.

Business Administrator Bill Yukna said staff salaries and all-day kindergarten are leading the increase, according to the Foxboro Reporter. The move to free all-day kindergarten opposed to a free half-day program and a full-day program with tuition has been an ongoing trend in the state.

At the elementary schools, the district expects to elimination a third grade teacher at the Burrell School and a second grade teacher at the Taylor School due to smaller class sizes. Superintendent Debra Spinelli said layoffs are unlikely and thinks the positions can be eliminated through retirements and position moves.

Teacher salaries are slated for a 2 percent increase.

The committee will vote on the budget in January and residents will have their vote at May 9's Annual Town Meeting.

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