JOHNSON, Vt. (WCAX) – The third time was the charm for the Lamoille North Supervisory Union elementary school budget, but it was a close call.
“I can understand why people are afraid to vote for it, but this is really the most important investment that we can probably make. It’s for our kids, it’s to make our school better. It’s a way of making a more healthy community,” said Johnson resident Lucia Green Weiskel.
Weiskel’s daughter attended Johnson Elementary School, and she says investing in public education is a priority for her.
“I think everyone who works here are heroes. I think they’re all doing their best, but I think they’re all doing a lot, and I think supporting them the most that we can is a great way for us to invest in this school and make it a great place for everyone to go to,” said Weiskel.
Lamoille North Supervisory Union covers students in the towns of Belvidere, Eden, Hyde Park, Johnson, and Waterville.
Since town meeting day, the board cut the budget by over $357 thousand, bringing the budget down to $15,995,730 from the original $16,353,135.
But after the second budget vote failed, the board cut only $50 more out of the spending plan because they did not want to make any more deep cuts that might affect the kids. A decision that some community members felt did not reflect their frustrations with the steep price…
Frustrations were shown in the very narrow passage of the third budget, which made it through with a 40 vote margin of 680 yes’s and 640 no’s.
Despite the close call, voters at the polls Tuesday were eager to pass it.
“I want the best education we can have for our kids, obviously within financial, budgetary constraints, but I think a lot of people are just feeling the stress of the economy and just voting everything down and not really considering what’s best for the kids but I think the kids need and deserve the best education they can get,” said Waterville resident Robert Wright.
“I also think it’s really important to protect our kid’s education, especially in Lamoille County where we might not have as much access to other things as other counties do in the state of Vermont,” said Johnson resident Ryley Cota.
With the passing of this third, more than $15.9 million, budget comes the elimination of four non-teaching positions. It also means the school will forgo capital projects and will move Waterville pre-k out of Belvidere and into Waterville Elementary School.
Board members believe the cuts will not be greatly felt by students.