With a $533,000 increase in the initial draft and less than $300,000 expected to come from the town, the Mattapoisett School Committee has a lot of work to do before presenting its budget to Selectmen.

It won't get any help from the move to a full-day, tuition free kindergarten.The committee had planned on a $210,000 reimbursement from the state for the program, something Chair James Higgins said was a "miscommunication."

The nine percent budget increase will have to be honed down without it. New teachers and new curriculum account for the majority of that rise.

Last year, the school committee added two new teachers, one for Old Hammondtown School’s large sixth grade class and one for Center School’s kindergarten, which moved to a full day program. The money for those teachers was “covered within the confines of the budget,” said Superintendent Doug White.

The salaries must be added into the new budget. As a result, the line item for classroom teachers has a $103,000 jump and the kindergarten has an $81,000 increase, which also includes salary increases. A salary for an additional reading specialist was also added into the budget.

Updating the curriculum will come at a price, too. The committee discussed purchasing materials to bring the  math program into alignment with the Common Core standards.

A wholesale shift to new materials for all elementary grades could cost $42,000. Currently, teachers supplement lessons to bring students inline with the new standards. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos said entire concepts are now being taught at different grade levels.

What curriculum program to choose, however, is up for debate.

“This has got to be a discussion for what is best for the children as a whole,” said Center School Principal Rose Bowman. “It’s got to be a collaboration between everybody.”

Some areas of the budget did see decreases. The hiring of a new music teacher resulted in a $7,000 decrease as did the move to full-day kindergarten, which eliminated the need for two buses. White said contract negotiations for the bus company are in the works and that number may change.

In addition to the schools’ “regular day” expenses, the committee also reviewed special education costs and tuition for students who attend a vocational school.

While special education transportation costs are down $59,000, the cost for students to get services out of district is expected to increase by almost $237,000.

Additionally, $25,000 is projected for Mattapoisett students who have applied to go to Bristol County Agricultural High School.

Looking at the numbers, White said, “There’s some work to be done. The tough part now will be to decide what are the priorities and the needs of the school.”