The Bristol Borough Board of School Directors approved the 2023-24 fiscal budget at last weeks board meeting with no tax increases and a one percent increase in spending from last year.

According to school district documents, spending will come in just under $27 million. This years budget came in just over $26 million.

Business manager for the school district Chris McHugh there is no millage increase due in part to increases in the basic education subsidy of a little more than $799,000; an increase in special education funding of just over $150,000; an increase in interest savings of $40,000. which all fall under revenue savings for the district.

The new spending plan was approved unanimously by the board.

Prior to the budget vote, a stream of commenters, for the second meeting in a row, came up to the podium during the public comment section of the meeting to encourage the board to support music education for students at Snyder-Girotti elementary school.

District parent, advocate, and frequent meeting attendee Dorie Morgan, who made the same pitch at last month’s meeting, shared her thoughts on the need for students at the elementary to continue instrumental instruction. The school district brought back Dr Joe Downey recently and he’s built the program back up to a place that has parents and students singing, his praise. Downey came out of retirement and as the academic year is nearing a close, parents and students alike, grew concerned there would be no replacement hired in his place for for the next academic year.

Some parents feared all the student progress made, would be lost.

As part of last weeks 2023-24 budget vote, new spending was approved to hire a K-12 music teacher at an estimated $95,000 per year.

Morgan was thrilled with last weeks outcome

“The board listened to students and parents who came together to advocate for vital music education. I’m thrilled that every student who wants it will have access to music in our skills. The boards timely posting of a music teacher position ensures instrumental music students will be able to continue to learn Dr Downey’s truly innovative and scientific approach to music education,” she said after last weeks votes.

School Board President David Chichilitti said in February he was aware of the of the important role music, and Downey has had on students and parents alike and maintained the board would act on the progress made with the music program rebuild.

“Parents and students love Dr Downey, he said, that’s why we asked him to come out of retirement, replacing him, and his impact on the kids” will be a challenge” he said at the time.

Chichilitti made sure, during last week’s meeting, parents were aware approving to advertise a music teacher hire was on the agenda.

A school district parent, whose son is now in his second year of playing the trumpet said, this isn’t something we could afford. Working class people paying for private lessons isn’t an option, either. Having something available in the public school for both out children, has been very, very valuable.

District officials said Downey sit in on the interview process for the proposed hiring of a new music teacher, and that was music to everyone’s ears also.

A copy of the 2023-24 Bristol Borough Budget can be viewed by clicking here