The Bethel School District is hosting budget workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays through February 8th. Superintendent Christine Carver is requesting a 3.95 percent spending increase, or an additional $1.9 million, for coming academic year. She says more funding is needed due to increasing enrollment and to address pandemic-related issues. Among the other factors contributing to the increase are the cost of diesel fuel and supplies for the school lunch program. A special education teacher at Berry Elementary School, but Carver says caseloads remain a challenge at Rockwell Elementary and an additional special education teacher is needed there.