Jaffrey-Rindge school board members came up with a plan Monday night to save sports and universal access to pre-kindergarten in the district, one week after both were part of a list of approved spending cuts. Board members were unified in their decision to spend $1.16 million in catastrophe, “safety-net” funding to save these and other programs.
Sports and universal pre-K were among programs put in jeopardy when voters adopted a reduced budget at the annual school district meeting earlier this month. The $30,760,452 budget voters passed at the March 11 polls was $3 million under what the school board had recommended. Several other programs are still being cut as a result.
In addition to retaining sports and keeping the district’s pre-kindergarten program universal, the safety-net money will fund co-curriculars, general music and French programs, as well as a director position.
During Monday’s school board meeting at Conant Middle/High School in Jaffrey, officials said spending these funds does not come without risks.
School board member Christopher Ratcliffe called the funds “the one lifeline we have.”
For roughly 2½ hours, the school board and members of the public discussed what students would have lost out on with cuts to the programs that were ultimately saved, and what they will lose due to the cuts that remain.
Several attendees expressed support for the board and its efforts to keep programs. Although the $1.16 million will help retain important programs, board members said there will still be significant losses, which include several staff positions.
Sophia Keshmiri can be reached at 603-283-0725 or skeshmiri@keenesentinel.com.
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