By Elio Gugliotti, Editor
BEACON FALLS The Region 16 Board of Education has reached terms on a new, three-year contract with the union that represents secretaries, nurses, custodians and other support staff in the district.
The school board on May 12 unanimously approved the contract with the United Public Service Employees Union Local 424. The union represents about 150 employees in the region, which is comprised of Beacon Falls and Prospect. The union also represents paraprofessionals, maintenance staff, cafeteria workers, security staff and technical support technicians.
The contract covers from July 1 through June 30, 2024. Under the contract, employees will receive a 2.5% raise in the first year, but won’t move up a step on the salary scale. In the second and third year, employees will get a 2% raise and move up a step.
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.
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.
Region 16 board votes to return full surplus to towns 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.
By Elio Gugliotti, Editor
PROSPECT â Region 16 Board of Education members Feb. 10 debated whether to transfer any more surplus funds to its capital nonrecurring account, but took no action.
The school board, which oversees public schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, finished the 2019-20 fiscal year with a budget surplus of $661,286.
Excess school money is returned to the towns in the form of credits on their education payments to the region. The money is divided based on the percentage of students from each town. For the 2019-20 school year, 63.25% of students lived in Prospect and 36.75% in Beacon Falls. If $661,286 is returned, Prospect and Beacon Falls would be credited about $418,000 and $243,000, respectively, this fiscal year.