HANOVER — Voters in Hanover and Norwich approved a package of technology upgrades for several schools in the two towns during Australian ballot voting Tuesday.
Residents voted, 782-218, to raise $842,700 to install new cable lines, phones and infrastructure improvements throughout the Dresden School District, which operates Hanover High School and the Richmond Middle School.
Hanover residents separately voted, 378-16, to spend about $245,300 for upgrades at the Ray School.
Dresden voters also approved a $28.1 million budget for the district’s schools. That amounts to a $382,172, or 1.3%, increase over current spending.
On the Hanover ballot, a $15.6 million school budget was approved in a 383-24 vote. That figure is about $85,600, or about 0.5%, under the current budget.
A two-year contract with Dresden’s custodial and maintenance staff was OK’d as well. It’s estimated that the deal will increase the budget by $18,500 in the coming school year and $25,500 the year after that.
A similar contract with Hanover’s staffers was similarly approved. It will add about $2,100 to the 2021-2022 budget and almost $3,000 the year after.
Voters also decided a contested race for the Hanover School Board. School Board Chairman Richard Johnson Jr., incumbent Kelly McConnell and newcomer Brittney Joyce won a four-way race for three seats, defeating Kevin Knuuti.