BURLINGTON – All five members of the Burlington School Board who voted against the school budget Jan. 13 have now put their support behind that same spending plan.
The five Burlington School Board Commissioners – Kevin Garrison, David Kirk, Kat Kleman, Scot Shumski and Mark Porter — held a news conference last week at the C.P. Smith Elementary School to discuss their decision.
They credited new Burlington Schools Superintendent Howard Smith with changing their minds. Smith was hired after claims of financial mismanagement dogged the previous administration.
“With an exceptional partner such as Dr. Smith, we have begun the restorative process that is required to put our district back on solid financial ground,” Shumski said.
The $68.6 million budget represents a 1.75 percent increase over the current budget. Burlington residents will vote on the budget March 3.
