By MATT LINDSEY

CANTON -- The Canton Central Board of Education approved the district’s $30.9 million 2018-19 budget Monday night.

The proposed budget of $30,945,031 "will allow the district to retain all current educational programs and staffing, add faculty and staff needed to address the educational and socio-emotional needs of our students, and also enhance our security posture," according to Superintendent William Gregory.

The proposed budget is within the allowable tax cap of 2.67 percent, he said.

The budget includes replacement of the seven positions including an elementary teacher, elementary music teacher, special education teacher, science teacher, technology teacher and two teaching assistants and the addition a mental health counselor, elementary teacher and in-school police officer.

All seven replacements are retirements with the exception of the special education and technology teachers, which were resignations.

“A second grade teacher will be added to accommodate large class sizes in that grade level next year,” Gregory said.

The budget will also include a proposition to purchase three new buses at a cost not to exceed $320,000.

CCS has been allocated just over $18 million in state aid. The balance of the budget will be paid for with the tax levy ($9.68 million) and use of district reserve funds ($1.12 million) and undesignated reserve ($2.15 million).

Gregory said funding for a boys' swimming team has also been budget and will be formed given sufficient student interest.

School board members Victor Rycroft, Robert Devins, and James Nee are incumbents running unopposed for their seats this year during the May 15 vote. The community will also vote on the budget that night.