Dutchess Voters Go To Polls On School Budgets: Teacher Cuts, Security Hires

More than $1 billion in taxpayer spending on public schools is at stake on Tuesday, May 15 when local residents can vote on their school district budgets.

Rhinebeck Schools.are among the local districts proposing staff cuts on Tuesday in their annual budget votes.
Photo Credit: *File*

Daily Voice

05/14/2018 3:08 p.m.

Proposed 2018-19 school budgets, which range from Webutuck's $22.7 million to Wappingers' $231 million, would be financed by about $738 million in property taxes.

With security against gun violence a priority, Beacon Schools seek to add a district chief of security; Millbrook and Webutuck both plan to hire a school resource officer.

Highland's spending plan calls for three, new part-time security personnel, while Poughkeepsie's budget would fund five more security monitors. Pawling wants to create secure entries at the middle and high school, and Marlboro wants to add a new communication system.

Arlington plans to add mental health training for staff, while New Paltz, a district which has seen two suicides over the past three years, wants to add an extra psychologist.

Arlington is cutting positions, as are the Hyde Park, Millbrook, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook and Rhinebeck districts.

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