With staffing cuts on the horizon, on April 5 the Rochester School Committee approved the 2013 budget for $5,573,114 to send before Town Meeting for a vote.

The final draft of the budget is an $82,676 increase from 2012 due in part to an increase in special educations services, a larger number of students attending vocational school and utilities costs in the new Rochester Memorial School building.

The revised budget is down $354,811 from the initial proposal made in December 2011.

Changes in staff include the reduction of two teachers, the building technology coordinator and some support personnel.

Several Rochester Memorial School teachers were on hand for a final hearing before the committee voted.

Physical education teacher Kevin Woodward raised concerns over the loss of the full-time technology coordinator in favor of a new technology director.

Plans for a district-wide technology director to be shared by the three towns - Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester - have been put in place for the 2013 school year.

Each of the three towns would be responsible for a portion of the technology director’s salary.

“We’ve had this in the past, a technology coordinator housed at the main office, and we didn’t see a whole lot of her here in Rochester. Needs were not addressed,” said Woodward.

School Committee member Sharon Hartley said she was confident that the technology director position would address the school’s needs.

“It’s going to lead to something better for our district,” she said.

Now that the School Committee has approved the draft budget, the matter will pass to Town Meeting for a final vote of approval.