The Board of Education is poised to vote on the proposed school district 2022-23 budget at its scheduled Tuesday, February 1, meeting.

A public hearing on the budget was held on the evening of Thursday, January 27, and two members of the public spoke.

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue first presented her proposed 2022-23 budget at the Board of Education’s January 18 meeting. Since then, the school board has heard from representatives of the school system and district regarding their respective sections of the proposed spending package.

As presented by Rodrigue the proposed total 2022-23 spending package is $83,161,076, which represents a 4.35% increase from 2021-22.

At Thursday's public hearing, resident Jessica Velasco voiced her support for the district's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Director Wesley A. Johnson's efforts.

"I would like to thank the board and administration for having had the foresight in foreseeing and creating his position," Velasco said.

Velasco also asked the school board to consider adding administrative support for the director's position, and the board and superintendent later clarified that a support position is already in place and in the budget.

Resident Laura Main spoke in support of the curriculum and instruction portion of the budget, which she pointed out includes an independent audit of the curriculum. Sharing her support for DEI initiatives, Main said an audit of the curriculum is important given recent parent concerns for outdated social studies text books.

The Board of Education is expected to ask questions and make possible changes to the budget before voting on it at Tuesday's meeting, which will be held at Newtown Municipal Center, with a phone participation option. The meeting is also expected to be streamed online to watch.

Coverage of Tuesday's meeting will be in the February 4 print edition of The Newtown Bee.

Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.