Last month the Bristol Borough School Board approved its 2022/23 school budget without raising taxes for the 12th consecutive year.
The total budget came in at just over $26.6 million with a slight increase over last years budget that came in just under $25 million.
School District Business Manager Christopher McHugh said earlier this week as a result of the newly passed state budget the school district will be getting more more money than it originally planned to receive. Approximately $900,000 more.
The new state budget has given increases to the following: Basic Education Subsidy – Increase of $462,855. Level up Funding (Funding allocated to the poorest 100 districts) – Increase of $340,411 Special Education Subsidy an increase of $100,096 for a total Increase of $903,362, McHugh said
School Board President David Chichilitti spoke with Lower Bucks Source about this year’s successes and what he said is a “bright future” for Bristol taxpayers and students of the district.
With the state budget settle and the additional funding coming into the district will free up funds for other projects to be launched during the next school year, Chichilitti said.
Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source
The School Board President said he’s really “excited” about the work being done for the newly configured art classroom and the installation of a new air conditioning system and windows at Bristol High School with work expected to begin any day now.
“At the beginning of last year” Chichilitti said, “the Board set a lot of goals and many we’ve met and surpassed.”
Such as, Superintendent Dr. Thomas Shaffer announcing the school District was chosen as a pilot site for student course study interested in becoming first responders. The hope of Bristol officials is the fire and EMS major will help to support borough fire companies while providing students with hands-on first responder work and experience for potential future careers.
“That program is going to benefit Bristol for years to come,” he said.
There is also the planned revamp to the playground at Snyder-Girotti Elementary School that’s still in the planning stages, new elective courses for juniors and seniors at the high school beginning next fall too, he added.
Chichilitti said a lot of new home owners was a definitive factor in keeping taxes at bay for tax payers.
“*There were a lot of homes sold in Bristol over the last year which has increased the district’s tax base and in turn tax payers and student families are benefiting with the projects moving forward in the district. Students, he said, will benefit with new courses, classrooms, and schools that are safe to be in and tax payers continue to pay the same rates.
Credit: Diana Munier
Moving on to the topic of school safety, he said, we’ve hired a full time school security guard and we’re in the process of working with Chief of Police Moors on additional measures to keep staff and students safe at all times. I’m sure he’ll talk about it when the time is right, Chichilitti said.
The last topic we spoke about is the planned superintendent search after the school year begins in September.
With Dr. Shaffer’s one-year interim tenure ending in October and bringing back Dr Broadus Davis, to take the helm, we’ll restart the process in the fall assisted once again by the Intermediate Unit as we search for a candidate our students and taxpayers deserve, he said.
“I’m really excited about the work ahead, the new board members who are bringing the district new energy and ideas. We’re not perfect, but we’re always working towards becoming a better school district,” the School Board President said.
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