Marion's school budget will likely see a 2.9 percent over the current year to cover costs associated with contracts, a spike in energy bills and more.

Superintendent Doug White and Principal Lyn Rivet presented the latest draft of the budget during a public hearing on Wednesday evening.

The budget request for fiscal year 2016 calls for an additional $166,722 increase from the 2015 budget. The increase would cover contractual obligations, classroom materials, energy costs and additional hours for two staff members.

A total of $46,012 has been requested to move the assistant principal’s position from part time to full time.

“The importance of [Assistant Principal Sarah Goerges] being full time has multiple facets,” Rivet said. “School safety and student safety is a high priority and a huge reason for making [Goerges’s] services full time.”

The assistant principal’s additional hours would also allow her to perform more teacher evaluations, Rivet said.

Bringing back an enrichment teacher is another priority for Sippican School.

“That’s an opportunity to service our top learners who need to be challenged,” Rivet said. “The [program] isn’t working the way it needs to be working.”

The total draft budget is $5,774,987.

White said there is a chance that number will be lower if additional special education funds are awarded.

Also, White said the draft doesn't take into account that more students may enroll once a large affordable housing project is completed in town.

“We need to be cognizant of the potential for more students coming in from the 40B project that’s coming online,” White said.

Administrators were able to save money in the areas of staffing and transportation.

The transportation budget dropped $71,106, or 8.8 percent, compared to 2015. White said that was due, in part, to a new contract.

School Committee members will review the budget this month. At the committee’s April meeting, a final proposal is expected to be approved and sent to May Town Meeting for a vote.