School Brief: Budget Meetings Set for This Week

The Manchester Township Board of Education will hold two special public budget meetings this week to hear presentations from district officials. 

The first meeting is scheduled for Feb. 8, when school principals will make their budget presentations. On Feb. 9, the Transportation, Building and Grounds, Student and Administrative Services, Curriculum and Technology Departments will present.

Both meetings will be held at the Ridgeway Elementary School, 2861 Ridgeway Rd., at 6 p.m. The Special Services Department will make its presentation during the school board's monthly meeting on Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

During a meeting last month, that deep cuts to next year's budget are likely and encouraged the public to stay involved in the creation process.

“I wanted to get the word out there that there are going to be some significant cuts,”  board member Donald Webster Jr. said.

Webster said that considerations for next year's budget changes may include making sports programs pay-to-play, charging students to park at the high school and the elimination of programs or classes.

“I’m getting the word out early on that this is what we're facing,” he said.

Superintendent David Trethaway said at the meeting that public support is important during the budget creation.

“The focus has always been here on the students and the community and that’s going to stay that way," he said. "Obviously, we need the support of everyone to do that.”

According to a release from the school district, "the budget must be finalized and presented to the public by late March." 

A vote on the budget, as well as board of education candidates, is set for April 27. Voting information, including times and locations, is available online.