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School board begins budget process

WILTON – The Cooperative School Board has begun the long process of developing a budget for the 2018-19 school year. Recently, they met jointly with the district budget committee to hear preliminary proposals.

Principal Tim O’Connell presented outlines of several projects and some projected costs for both the Florence Rideout Elementary School and the Lyndeborough Central School, which houses the kindergarten and pre-school.

O’Connell is proposing a math coach to help students who are having difficulties. The position would be contracted. The objective is to raise scores on state tests.

Also proposed is expanding the handwriting program through all five grades.

“Integrate it at all levels,” he said, noting that it is a popular program.

He also needs new social studies books since, “it is cheaper to buy new ones than try to find copies of the old ones.”

The current texts date to 2000.

“And history has happened since then,” he said.

In other business, the board approved a trip to Gettysburg, Pa., by a high school class which has a term of military history.

“There are eight students,” Teacher Marc Belanger said, “and we could go by van.”

The students would be responsible for hotel costs.

The board agreed it was “a great idea.”

The trip will take place in the spring.

Middle/High School Principal Brian Bagley said the school will be visited by the state Department of Education to view the facilities, “do a walkthrough and observe out emergency preparedness plans.”

The school will be “rolling out new student expectations plans,” he said.

Last year, ninth graders created an electronic portfolio, and that program will be expanded.

Funds were approved for a new fourth- and fifth-grade band program.

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