St. Johnsbury School District's New Budget Proposal

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Created on Tuesday, 04 March 2025 19:48

Written by Asher Ballantine

The Saint Johnsbury School District held their annual budget meeting Monday alongside the St. Johnsbury informational town meeting. A handful of local residents, along with several reliant organizations, attended to make their case on budget proposals.

The school’s proposed budget saw a 3.19% increase from this year’s expenditure, down from an original 3.5% proposed budget, which was rejected by the Select Board. The decrease meant cuts in certain areas, which could affect the quality of education.

Karen Konroy, Superintendent of the St. Johnsbury School District, explained: “There were a number of proposed staffing changes with reductions to support students around paraprofessionals. There were a number of unfilled positions that we were trying to hire over multiple years. We just haven’t been able to hire them, but they’ve been in our budget.”

As part of the new budget, several paraprofessionals were removed, along with reductions in student field trips and professional development opportunities.

Even with the budget increase, the tax rate will decrease by three cents due to Vermont’s “weighted pupils” system, which allows for more state funding for students who incur higher costs.

The increased budget also includes plans to raise salaries, health benefits, and transportation for students who require third-party quality care outside of town.

There was no open disagreement with the proposal.

Carl Johnson, a teacher in the district, shared his perspective: “Let’s talk about why education is so expensive. Let’s have that debate. And that’s what we’re here for, right? Health care, that’s the number one! Do you think I like paying more than anyone else in any other industrial country and not getting better results?”