South Royalton School Meeting: Budget Passes Without Discussion

By Randy Leavitt 

The Royalton School District held its annual meeting Monday night, March 5 at the South Royalton High School gym. The meeting was reasonably well attended, although it was speculated that more people might have attended the school meeting if the South Royalton boys varsity basketball team hadn’t been playing in the semi-finals that night at the Barre Auditorium, a game where a three-point swish at the buzzer proclaimed the Royals winners.

The school meeting progressed quickly, although not hurriedly, and was finished in just over an hour. Less than five minutes were spent approving the school district report, and the actual budget of $5,306,976 passed without any discussion.

John Olmstead attributed the budget’s 1.49% increase from last year’s budget to "excellent management on the part of the supervisory union and the principals office." He noted that the school, like most schools in Vermont, is facing a declining enrollment. Currently that is affecting the lower grades but when that wave of smaller class sizes hits the high school Royalton will be receiving less money from the state, and will have the same size school and, most likely, the same amount of teachers. The result will be a higher cost per pupil. He said the board is planning ahead for this eventuality.

Seven-year school board veteran Steve Timian stepped down from the board this year. He was thanked for his many years of service to the school and given a solid round of applause. Timian was not present for this accolade as one of his children was playing basketball at the "Aud" at that very moment.

The meeting adjourned with Moderator David Ainsworth suggesting that some of the voters in attendance might make the second half of the game if they left right away. Or, this writer might add, they can watch the boys on Saturday in the finals…

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