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SCHOOLS: $35.2 million Budget Certified; $500,000 for Technology Still In Discussion

School Committee certified a 35.2 million budget for fiscal 2014 which is $308,000 higher than this year's budget and represents a .9 percent increase. The total budget includes $31.6 million operating budget and $1.6 million in debt service.

Assessments to member town towns Groton and Dunstable total $19.3 million. Groton's assessment to the school district totals $15.1 million which is $394,000 higher than this year's assessment and represents a 2.67 percent increase. Dunstable's assessment totals $4.2 million which is $109,000 higher than year's assessment and represents a 2.68 percent increase.

School assessments are amounts raised and appropriated through property taxes to pay school expenses for fiscal 2014. Groton's assessment of $15.1 million for operating expenses and Groton's debt assessment (for prior school construction) of $1.23 million will appear as part of the town's operating budget proposed for 2014 which goes to Annual Town Meeting for voter approval.

The certified budget was reduced by $342,000 from the original request of $35.5 million to accommodate a more modest increase in the town assessments. Assessments to Groton and Dunstable were cut nearly in half from a five percent increase to a 2.68 percent increase. The budget calls for slight staff reductions at all schools but includes creation of a new position of Technology Director to coordinate technology efforts in the schools district-wide.

School Committee continues to discuss its initiative of requesting a $500,000 expenditure to improve technology in the schools which would include increased and improved wireless access to the internet and purchase of computers which have similar operating systems and applications. Earlier discussions of the proposal brought out some concern about pushing ahead with the technology effort without a plan. Committee members discussed the proposal again during a Friday morning meeting March 8 and discussed the issue again at their regular meeting March 13. School Committee is expected to make a decision on the $500,000 request following their discussion at the March 13 meeting.

Groton Herald

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