Taxpayers in Easton are facing a small increase in their school district budget, as more funding has come in from the state and federal governments for special education and meal assistance.
Voters in Easton will be asked to approve a new school budget totalling $3.86 million, a 4 percent increase over last year, with raises for employees and an investment in a new bus. But the bill for local taxpayers is going up by only two tenths of one percent, or $9,000.
The Easton School System has traditionally received little funding from the state, thanks to generous local tax contributions from the Huber Engineered Woods and McCain Foods factories, which cover about 80 percent of the total town budget. That’s left Easton’s schools able to afford small class-sizes, all-day kindergarten, one-to-one laptops and overall more personalized learning, said superintendent Roger Shaw.
At the same time, more Easton kids are coming to school from lower-income families and with special education needs, Shaw said.
The district is receiving $174,231 from the state for the next school year, $102,000 more than last year, more than half of it in additional special education assistance. The state offers all districts funding equivalent to 30 percent of the previous year’s special education costs.
Easton is also receiving more than $30,000 in increased federal funding, coming through the state, for the free and reduced lunch program, Shaw said. This year, 34 percent of Easton elementary students were eligible for free lunches and 19 percent qualified for reduced lunches. Free school lunches are available to students from families of four earning less than $31,525 and reduced-priced meals are available to students from households earning less than $44,863.
“It’s more costly to educate kids out of poverty than out of affluence,” Shaw said. To meet the needs of special education students, districts cover more services for speech and language therapy, counselling and physical therapy, Shaw said.
“Special ed needs are increasing in every school. Typically, they mirror the free and reduced lunch rate,” said Shaw, who came to Easton four years ago after working as superintendent of SAD 42 in Mars Hill.
Easton’s school budget is also carrying over $250,000 and bringing in $45,000 in tuition revenue.
About 20 students come to Easton from outside the town, though superintendents agreements or tuition. Some are children of parents who work in Easton, and some come for the small school experience.
“Schools in The County work together well,” Shaw said.
Easton’s school budget town meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 6, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Easton Elementary School cafeteria.
