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Winchester superintendent presents goal-driven budget; town support and grants cited
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Julie Luby presented a recommended budget to the Winchester Board of Education that emphasizes safety, climate and special-education costs; the proposal relies on a $17 million town contribution and just over $2 million in grants, and board members scheduled workshops and packet distribution ahead of further review.
Dr. Julie Luby, Winchester Board of Education superintendent, presented the board with her recommended budget at the special meeting on Feb. 4, emphasizing both district priorities and the scale of the proposal. "This budget represents a lot of money. There's no two ways about it. It costs a lot to run a school district," she said.
The budget presentation framed safety and school climate as central objectives, with proposed additions that the superintendent and board described as addressing district goals. The superintendent and staff identified specific payroll additions including a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) and school security staff (SSO), and said out-of-district tuition and transportation are among the largest cost drivers.
The superintendent explained funding sources for the proposal, saying the town of Winchester's contribution toward education was $17,000,000 and that the district brings in just over $2,000,000 in grants. She also noted the district is monitoring state discussions on excess special-education costs as a potential aid to the budget.
Board members did not take action on the budget during the Feb. 4 meeting; instead, members discussed next steps. The board will receive printed booklets and hold a series of budget workshops, with staff asking board members to email questions in advance so staff can prepare detailed answers. The superintendent also said backup dates had been reserved in case weather forces a schedule change.
During the meeting a motion to adjourn at 7:48 p.m. was made and approved; no formal vote tally on the motion was recorded in the transcript.
The board and staff said they will review the budget line by line in upcoming meetings and workshops and encouraged community members to follow the workshops via YouTube or in person. The superintendent credited the district's grant writers for bringing in the grants that help defray the local tax impact.
