The Triton Regional School District held a School Committee Budget Presentation on January 14, 2025, to discuss the financial needs and priorities for the upcoming school year. The meeting featured various school leaders who outlined their budget requests and addressed key issues affecting their respective schools.

The discussion began with an update on a competitive grant related to special education positions. It was noted that while the grant may be extended for one year, there is no guarantee of funding. The committee plans to follow up with a school council member for further information, particularly regarding the governor's budget, which will influence their next steps.

Alma Cray, the principal of the middle school, presented her budget request, emphasizing the need for full-time social workers. She highlighted the inadequacy of having only part-time counselors to meet the growing demands of student support. Cray reported no requests for new teaching staff but acknowledged the addition of a full-time reach counselor last year, which has positively impacted student services. She outlined a budget request of approximately $14,000, which includes funds for instructional materials, online subscriptions, and emergency preparedness resources.

Patrick, the high school principal, expressed gratitude to faculty and staff for their dedication. He provided insights into enrollment projections, indicating a slight decrease in student numbers due to the outgoing senior class. He noted that the incoming freshman class is expected to be stable, with a typical size of around 135 students. Patrick also mentioned three significant personnel proposals that would be discussed further in the meeting.

Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of adequate funding for personnel and resources to support student needs across the district. The committee will continue to refine budget requests and seek additional information in the coming weeks as they prepare for the next fiscal year.