The Bethel Board of Education has proposed a 3 percent increase in spending for the coming fiscal year.  The $49.5 million plan will be supplemented by a $1 million federal grant for pandemic-related uses.  Some of that money will be put toward PPE, custodial services and technology.  But Superintendent Dr Christine Carver says a portion could be used for after-school programs to close academic gaps that may have developed because of the pandemic. 

Bethel is looking to add 4 new positions: a special education teacher, social-emotional learning coach, elementary school teacher and a math specialist.  A fulltime IT person will be hired as the district's technology department has grown over the last 6 years. There used to be 1,254 student laptops and 496 staff devices, but now there's 3,077 student devices and 690 staff devices to be supported.

The Board of Selectmen have scheduled the annual town meeting for  April 5, at 7pm, though a location or zoom link have not been decided.