At a Feb. 25 Mattapoisett School Committee meeting Superintendent Doug White presented next year’s budget for the Mattapoisett Schools, which is up 2.98 percent, mostly because of contract negotiations.

The budget has increased $280,357 since last year to $7,202,581. 

$22,724 of that money will go toward adjustments in the central office. Around $17,000 of that sum will go toward adding a second curriculum position to replace Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Elise Frangos.

How the responsibilities for those two positions will be split is still unknown. But White asked for and got two volunteers to serve on a committee about the issue.

The majority of other lines in the budget had to do with contract adjustments, such as the adjustments for classroom teacher salaries, or new bus contracts.

The largest staffing change will be the elimination of a fifth grade teacher, and a reduction from four sections to three.

“This is not a surprise,” said Principal Rose Bowman, “We had anticipated losing one every year.” None of the school committee members commented on the staffing change.

$113,100 of the budget goes to tuition and transportation costs for Mattapoisett students who wish to attend Bristol County Agricultural High School.

White explained that the town also funds some aspects of the curriculum outside of the school budget, including a reading program for grades one to three and a technology program.

White said he has already presented the budget to a member of the finance committee and the Town Administrator, who approved of it. He will finalize the budget with the budget subcommittee, and hold a public hearing on the budget in April.