Six science classes and a Latin class at the high school and rental of the pool at the Connecticut Junior Republic will be part of the proposed budget of school superintendent Deborah Wheeler after all.

The Board of Education on Monday directed Wheeler to restore $77,000 to her proposed budget for 2010-11. Wheeler's spending plan of $16,368,581 called for cutting the science and Latin classes and not funding the pool rental.

With the addition of the $77,000 needed to cover the course and pool costs, Wheeler's proposed budget stands at $16,435,106, an increase of $521,106, or 3.27 percent, over the current budget of $15,914,000.

Wheeler's original spending plan was $454,581, or 2.86 percent, higher than the current budget. The 2.86 percent increase fell within the range the school board wanted, but board Chairman James Katzin admitted the request was likely too ambitious.

"Below 3 percent was asking too much of our superintendent and administrators," Katzin said at Monday's meeting. "They did what we asked them to do, but I think we were asking too much."

Voting to restore funding were Katzin, Frank Gorman, John Noone, Amy Rosser and Gayle Carr. Opposed were Donald Falcetti, Frank Simone, Wayne Shuhi and Betsy Fabbri.

In voting against the measure, Falcetti, Simone, Shuhi and Fabbri said they supported funding being restored for the science and Latin classes but were not pleased that some other cuts won't be restored.

Shuhi, for example, expressed concern with a reduction of staff in the music program that covers the high school and intermediate school.

"What concerns me is we're taking money that could be used for classes and using it for the pool," Shuhi said before the vote.

Fabbri was concerned about adding the $17,500 pool rental fee, saying it remains unclear if independent funding of $15,000 can be found to cover the entire rental fee that would be shared by Litchfield, Region 6 and a youth swimming program.

Also before the vote, Katzin again voiced support for restoring funding for the science classes on the cutting block: anatomy and physiology, forensics, embryology, ecology, advanced placement environmental science and advanced placement physics.

"Without these science classes, our students would be at a disadvantage," Katzin said. "A budget that does not support the classes is unconscionable."

Wheeler's new spending plan was arrived at with help from Shuhi and Business Manager Pat Buccitelli. Shuhi and Buccitelli dived into the proposed budget and found $10,975 in administrative costs that could be eliminated.

The two are planning another review ahead of the school board's meeting on March 17, when the board will consider adopting Wheeler's proposed budget.

Monday's vote came before a large crowd of parents and students, many whom expressed concern about the proposed elimination of the science classes and lack of funding for the pool during a school board meeting two weeks ago.

Wheeler's proposed budget isn't getting any help from the union representing teachers, the Litchfield Education Association. The union was asked by Wheeler to work two unpaid furlough days to save $75,000, but declined. Savings could have be used to fund programs eliminated or reduced under Wheeler's proposed budget.

The union is unwilling to reopen the final year of its four-year contract, union spokesman Brian Mongeau told the board. Under the current contract, teachers received wage increases that were below the state average in the first three years of the deal.

The lone board member to respond to Mongeau was Simone.

"I'm totally disappointed in the teachers for not agreeing to concessions," Simone said. "We wouldn't be sitting here tonight if they were willing to tighten their belts."

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