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WILTON -- Superintendent Gary Richards has requested a 2.59-percent budget hike for Wilton's public schools in 2012.

Richards unveiled the document this week, saying it would "prevent the further erosion of the quality of our school system," by allowing Wilton to keep its high-quality employees, boost classroom technology and address safety and health issues.

Yet Richards has not attempted to restore programs lost in past years.

They include the mentor program for Wilton High School freshmen and sophomores, nine classroom teachers, one administrator, one custodian and eight paraprofessionals. New course offerings will again be deferred, as will new textbook proposals and textbook replacements.

Board of Education Chairman Bruce Likly said the budget would move Wilton forward with its District Strategic Plan by investing in "key areas including technology and curriculum and professional development." 

The Board of Education is continuing to review the document, he said.

"Our initial impressions are that the superintendent and his team have compiled a thoughtful and comprehensive budget that takes into consideration the district's educational goals, the difficult cuts and deferments we've had to make over the past two years and the economic challenges faced by the town and its citizens," Likly said.

Nearly 60 percent of the budget is comprised of salaries, with 20 percent comprised of employee benefits, 11 percent comprised of supply, equipment and staff training costs, 4.4 percent comprised of transportation costs and 3.9 percent comprised of facility costs.

The budget requests includes savings, as well.

To that end, Richards said the public school system has bid for heating oil and diesel fuel, electric generation, and property insurance with the Town of Wilton. The school system has also combined its self-funded health benefits plan with the town.

School officials found energy savings by installing LED lights in parking lights, motion sensors and software that shuts down computers at night, as well as scaling back on thermostat settings.

From 2003 to 2011, electricity use has dropped by 26 percent. Heating oil use has dropped by 16 percent.

Earlier this month, a panel of arbiters announced that Wilton teachers would go without pay raises in 2012.

The Board of Education will vote on the budget Feb. 9, during a public meeting. Before then, Likly has encouraged community members to voice their opinions on the spending plan. The board will consider that feedback in its decision, he said.

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