Community Corner

Redding and Easton OK Budgets [Video]

School officials pleased with voting results.

The votes are in, and it's apparent Redding and Easton residents support education.

On Tuesday, May 3, both towns voted to approve their respective town’s operating budget, schools budget and the budget for .

"We appreciate the confidence the voters [placed] in us," said Mark Lewis, chairman of the Region 9 Board of Education. "It's very gratifying. This will make very happy."

Find out what's happening in Weston-Redding-Eastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Though he's not yet been formally approved, Dr. Bernard Josefsberg appears to be in line to replace Dr. Michael Cicchetti. Lewis said the Redding, Easton and Region 9 Boards of Education will likely meet next week to confirm Josefsberg's position.

In Redding, by a vote of 707 to 497 (59 percent to 41 percent), voters approved $45,769,082 for the town’s 2011-12 budget ($13,164,089 for the town, $21,353,543 for and , and $11,251,450 for Joel Barlow). By a vote of 708 ro 496 (59 percent to 41 percent), voters approved Region 9's $21.7 million budget.

Find out what's happening in Weston-Redding-Eastonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In Easton, by a vote of 774 to 395 (66 percent to 34 percent), voters approved $41,113,936 for the town's 2011-12 budget ($15,702,981 for the town, $14,962,405 for and and $10,448,550 for Joel Barlow). By a vote of 739 to 429 (63 percent to 37 percent), voters approved Region 9's budget.

"It's a wonderful result for the town and a wonderful result for the schools," said Dr. Jess Gaspar, chairman of the Redding Board of Education. "It's a great effort and a great outcome. I'm proud to be a [resident] of the town of Redding."

Tom McMorran, principal of Joel Barlow High School, said he was feeling "pretty good" after the voting results came in.

The administration is "trying to do a lot of good things for the children of Easton and Redding."

McMorran said the budget results were a "very strong sign of support."

"People are eager to have first class education for our kids," he said.


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