Mansfield School Committee (Selectmen) Roundup: Budget, French Connection and QMS Softball Field

The Mansfield School Committee voted 5-0, in conjunction with a Board of Selectmen vote of 3-2, to approve the current version of the town budget at a joint meeting on Wednesday. Members from the Finance Committee advised both boards against the current date for town meeting, saying that they have not had enough time to go over the new budget.  School Committee members unanimously agreed that moving the date of the town meeting would not have any benefit.

Selectmen originally voted 3-2 during that meeting to postpone the town meeting to May 1, but after the votes to approve the budget, the motion was then renewed and voted 4-1 against moving the meeting.

School Committee members voted 5-0 to raise the tuition for the Little Hornets $2 a day across the board. Superintendent Brenda Hodges said that that the current rate of tuition has not gone up in three years, and was well below other similar programs in other towns.

Committee members voted 5-0 to approve a 2013 French foreign exchange field trip. Trowbridge recommended looking into insurance options now for the trip.

Hodges said that at least four classrooms will be filled for the 2012-2013 year full-day kindergarten program.

The committee agreed that they want director of finances Edward Vozzella and Hodges to go over the budget one more time and see if there is any way to get more out of the school budget for another fourth and fifth grade teacher at Jordan Jackson. Fee increase for athletics and bus services were floated around to help offset the costs for the extra teacher.

Chair Michael Trowbridge updated the committee on the restoration of the Qualters Middle School softball field renovation paid for by the Mansfield Girls Softball Association. The renovations have been completed and is now ready for the season.