An amendment to the operating budget for this year was made to the New Boston School District warrant at the deliberative session of School District Meeting at New Boston Central School on Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Article 3 in the warrant, which originally called for an increase from the default budget of $10,456,342 to $10,497,147 was amended at the session to $10,337,147.

Board members indicated that the decrease originated from the decrease of the Goffstown School District’s budget. “Our budget was proposed before their recalculation,” said Marti Wolf, School Board chairman.

Because the New Boston School Board contributes tuition to Goffstown to allow New Boston students to go to Goffstown schools, when Goffstown decreased their budget, New Boston’s tuition payments were decreased, leading to a lower budget.

Residents also discussed the other warrant article, increases in salaries and benefits for support staff at New Boston schools. The new three-year collective bargaining agreement made between the New Boston School Board and the New Boston Support Staff Association would allow for the following increases over the next three academic years:
• $37,575 in 2009-10
• $39,245 in 2010-11
• $41,715 in 2011-12

The motion to place the article on the ballot passed. Voting on the articles will be March 10 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at New Boston Central School. Voters will also choose one member for the School Board for a three-year term.