The 2015 school budget, in its original form presented by Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood on Jan. 8, was approved by the School Committee on Jan. 29. The budget totals $27,704,474, a 3 percent increase from the 2014 budget.

Closing the East Wareham Early Childhood Center and reconfiguring Minot Forest and Decas elementary schools are among reductions in the budget. Minot Forest Elementary will house grades pre-K through 1, and Decas will house grades 2 through 4.

Yet, more budget changes are likely coming as the town faces a $2.9 million gap between expenses and revenue in its total budget.

“I don’t think there’s a doubt in anyone’s mind that that number is going to change,” said member Michael Flaherty.

Chair Rhonda Veugen suggested delaying the vote and calling an executive session on Feb. 5 to discuss collective bargaining agreements. She based this on the information provided at the Jan. 28 Selectmen’s meeting as well as the Financial Committee working on its budget. Her goal was to get a better number to present.

“I think we go through this every single year, you vote on a number before any of these conversations happen,” said Veugen. “Then we go through a cycle and another cycle, voting two more times.”

“I don’t want to hear anyone say they don’t have a real number from us,” said member Michael Flaherty. “I think you have to start with an official number, tonight.”

Member Geoffrey Swett gave two reasons to vote on Jan. 29: to acknowledge the efforts of those who formed the budget and to have an initial budget to present to Town Meeting.

“There was something different that came out of last night’s Selectmen’s meeting, and that was a consensus that we go Town Meeting with two budgets,” said Swett. “One budget would be contingent upon additional revenue and the other budget would this beyond draconian budget that would tremendous cuts to basically all areas of town government.”

“We owe it to any number of constituencies that we vote on the budget as presented by the Superintendent,” Swett said.

“I think to honor the process… we need to just give them a number,” said member Cliff Sylvia.

To keep the community involved, Shaver-Hood has set up the Reconfiguration Committee. Notice will be sent out on Jan. 30 staff, parents and community to volunteer on the committee. The first meeting will be Feb. 6, followed tentatively by Feb. 11 and Feb. 25.

“Come and ask questions,” Shaver-Hood said.

However, major changes to the proposed budget is not likely.

“To reach this goal, East must close and reconfiguration must happen,” said Shaver-Hood.

With the input of the Reconfiguration Committee, Shaver-Hood said other tweaks would be likely be “minor.”