White River Valley School District Budget Update

 

On Tuesday, March 6th, residents of both Bethel and Royalton will vote on the first budget for our merged school system, the White River Valley School District. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Town Meeting Day in the Bethel School Gym and voting will take place from the floor.

 A copy of the budget is available in Town Reports as well as on royaltonvermont.com and   on facebook in the open group, “Welcome To Our Merger - White River Valley School   District.”

 Highlights from the budget include:

• Funding that maintains roles for all current teaching staff
• Additional teaching positions: middle school math and English, flexible pathways, tech. ed, elementary outdoor education, world languages, and health
• Science and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) lab renovations for the middle and high school
• Middle and high school robotics  
• Instrument upgrades for the music program at both schools
• Additional professional development funds to focus on math, literacy, and behavior support
• Facilities upgrades in both buildings, including: renovating Royalton’s library, soundproofing Royalton’s cafeteria, improving Bethel’s heating system, and renovating Bethel’s greenhouse
• Computer network infrastructure upgrades at both school buildings

 Although final tax rates are not set by the State until after budgets are adopted by all   Vermont communities, our current projections are that Bethel’s equalized tax rate will be     $1.62 per $100 of property and Royalton’s equalized rate will be $1.52 per $100 of   property.

 Factors that influence each town’s tax rate this year include Act 46 tax incentives,   measures of local real estate value (known as the CLA), higher than expected base tax   rates set by the State, and lower than expected enrollment. In addition, spending was   temporarily increased this year for one-time expenses such as building maintenance in   order to take advantage of an Act 46 rule that provides a substantial amount of extra   money for our school.

 The new school board of the White River Valley School District will present the budget and   take questions prior to the vote on March 6th. Please note that the current boards are still   required by law to hold annual meetings but no major business will be transacted at these   times.

                     In order to vote on next year’s school budget, registered voters

from Bethel and Royalton must be

present at the White River Valley School District Meeting

being held in the Bethel school gym at 6 p.m. on

Tuesday, March 6th. We hope to see you there!