By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA — Massena Central’s first 2018-19 budget proposal includes requests for several new positions. That comes from Superintendent Patrick Brady’s first budget forum of the year, held at Thursday’s Board of Education meeting.

The presentation drew no comments from the public.

Brady’s presentation said budget requests include a high school English teacher, a junior high special education teacher, a speech pathologist and an occupational therapist.

“Junior high is looking at their special ed numbers coming in next year, so they need a teacher,” he said. He also mentioned that they are looking at working with SUNY Potsdam to bring interns for elementary literacy lessons.

They also need English as a second language (ESL) support to meet a new need. Two years ago, there were no students whose first language was not English.

“We now have seven … so that’s a significant increase we have to take a look at,” Brady said.

Salary requests at this point would bring an increase of $418,895 over last year.

They are also looking at an increase in their health insurance contribution, which their state increase will come short of covering. In addition to that, their teacher’s retirement system payment is going up. The total between both is over $900,000, according to Brady’s figures.

“This is very premininary. We’re using right now the govenreor’s proposal and we continue to work with out state legislators to look at additonal school aid,” Brady said. School officials are planning to meet with five state assemblymembers and senators on March 2 and 9, he told the board.

There will be a second public budget forum on March 15 at 7 p.m. It will be in the high school’s room 314.