This year’s budget is about as standard as they come. The money the school is spending will be put back into school programs such as eLearning opportunities for students, new Common Core programs, as well as new technology for the Math and Science classes. There will also be some changes to positions for the school staff.

According to Weedsport’s Budget information in News Notes; “The Weedsport Central School District Board of Education unanimously approved a school budget for the 2014 – 2015 school year at its April 7th meeting. This $18,522,881 school budget represents a 1.54% increase over the adopted school budget for the current year.”

The school budget is now transmitted to the voters for deliberation and action. Voters are encourage to become informed about the proposed school budget and to exercise one’s citizenship by voting on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Weedsport Jr.-Sr. High School.

With the retirement of WHS Director of Technology, Mr. Clark, as well as Mr. James and Mr. DiSanza, the school board has decided to combine the technology positions into a single opening.

Weedsport Superintendent, Mr. Shaun O’Connor, discussed with the Johnny Green the possible impact of the budget on students.

“The proposed budget for 2014 – 2015 will allow for the continuation of our outstanding educational program and co-curricular offerings. Some of the adjustments, in terms of additions from the previous year’s budget, reflect a need to offer teachers summer work time to focus on the Common Core Learning Standards and the modules which will benefit student learning, provides for increased online learning opportunities for students, the start of a shift towards the existing technology program being more of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program, and the purchase of technology hardware to promote student/staff use in the learning experience.”

The board itself will also undergo a change. Board President, Tim Lally, will be resigning from the board. In his place, board candidate Matthew Stark is running unopposed.

All in all, this year’s budget should not have a large impact on Weedsport High School students and/or their extracurricular activities in the school. The only major changes to the school will be the retirement of our technology teachers, Mr. James and Mr. DiSanza, and the changes in the technology classes they teach.