By Elio Gugliotti, Editor
PROSPECT Voters on May 3 overwhelmingly approved Region 16’s $40.9 million 2021-22 school budget at a district meeting.
The spending plan passed by a 67-1 vote. The budget increases overall school spending in the region, which is comprised of Beacon Falls and Prospect, by $253,657.
“It’s a very well-thought-out budget. It supports our students,” school board Chairman Priscilla Cretella said after the vote.
The roughly 0.6% budget increase is the first one in the region in three years. The budget includes implementing new math curriculum Illustrative Math and SAVVAS-Envision for grades six through 12, and replacing interactive boards in classrooms as of part technology upgrades.
Region 16 budget set for vote mycitizensnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mycitizensnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PROSPECT Eugene “Gene” McCarthy left his mark on Prospect in more ways than one.
McCarthy, the town’s former longtime assistant director of public works, died April 16. He was 83 years old.
The late former Mayor George Sabo Jr. hired McCarthy in March 1977, before even Mayor Robert Chatfield’s tenure in office started.
“From that day forward, Gene molded the public works department to what it is today and taught me an awful lot about construction,” said Chatfield, who was first elected in November 1977.
McCarthy retired in 2017.
The Town Charter states the mayor is the director of public works, but it is the assistant that runs the department. Chatfield said McCarthy, who referred to him as “kid,” brought a wealth of knowledge and experience in construction to the public works department.
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BEACON FALLS School officials are planning to hold an in-person graduation ceremony for Woodland Regional High School’s class of 2021.
The Region 16 Board of Education on March 31 set June 11, which is the last day of school, as the date for graduation. Officials are planning to hold the ceremony on the school’s football field for proper social distancing. The rain date is June 12.
The traditional graduation ceremony was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Woodland hosted a drive-thru ceremony for graduates to pick up their diplomas.
The board also scheduled a promotion ceremony for Long River Middle School for June 9. The plan is to hold the ceremony in-person and outdoors. The rain date is June 10.
By Elio Gugliotti, Editor
BEACON FALLS The Region 16 Board of Education on March 31 approved a $40.9 million budget proposal to send to voters, who will have the final say on the spending plan in May.
The 2021-22 school budget proposal increases overall spending for the region, which is composed of Beacon Falls and Prospect, by $253,657, or about 0.6%. The board approved sending the budget to a vote by “a show of hands” at a district meeting on May 3 at 7 p.m. at Long River Middle School in Prospect.
“We’ve tried to keep our budget aligned to what we believe is important, which is quality education and safe and well-maintained schools,” said Superintendent of Schools Michael Yamin during a hearing March 31 at Woodland Regional High School.