Technology, New Positions Among Proposed $50 Million Mansfield School Budget

MANSFIELD, MA — New staff positions, a new bus contract, and technology are some of the reasons for increases in the proposed Mansfield schools budget for fiscal year 2018.

Tuesday night, the Mansfield School Committee approved a budget of $50 million. During the budgeting process, the committee will not present a budget that goes over that number. Director of Finance and Operations Ed Vozzella said salaries and expenses were the main two components of the higher budget.

Among the increases are an 11 percent hike in a new 5-year bus contract; a large amount of spending in Chromebooks, smart boards, and technology at the schools; and five new full time positions.

The five new positions, which are budgeted at $250,000 are a new ESL teacher, two adjustment counselors at Qualters Middle School and Mansfield High School, library/media specialist for the Jordan-Jackson School, and a kindergarten teacher. $10,000 for furniture for the new kindergarten classroom was also included in the figure.

The School Committee will take a more in depth look at the budget in January.

Image: file photo