The Winthrop school board on Wednesday approved a $15.6 million budget that some fear will negatively impact learning by putting too many students in grade school classes.

The spending plan, which is a 5.4% increase over the current year, now goes to the Town Council for review.

Board members approved the budget unanimously despite those lingering concerns over class size because they feared the Town Council would likely reject a larger increase — especially considering that the current year’s budget was a 9% increase over the previous year, and a townwide property tax revaluation coming next year may increase the taxes of some property owners.

A reduced student-teacher ratio would benefit students, board member Jason Burnham said, but with the budget already increasing significantly over the last two years, it’s not the right time.

“Right now, this year, I don’t think we should be looking to increase a teacher within our budget,” he said.

Theresa Violette, grade school principal, said 12 new first-grade students have enrolled in Winthrop’s school since the beginning of the year, an unprecedented increase that she said caused difficulty for staff. Overall, the school’s enrollment jumped 36 students this year.

Amelia Arnold, a parent who has a student in first grade, said she was disappointed town officials wouldn’t be willing to increase the school budget to match the school system’s increased enrollment.

Last week, at a council meeting where Superintendent Becky Foley presented the budget, parent Whitney Kahn urged officials to support adding back into the budget an elementary school teacher position that was cut last year. She said she and others noticed the difference in their kids.

“Before this year’s loss of a teacher my student enjoyed class sizes that seemed to be a perfect ratio of students,” Kahn said. “We enjoyed ample communications, plenty of enrichment activities, and parent invitational events on campus.

“This year there has been a palpable absence of these and a noticeable difference in other areas of individualized attention that used to exist. I firmly believe this is a direct result of the reduction of resources and staff.”

Foley said adding the grade school teacher to the budget would have resulted in a more than 6% increase to the budget. She said after speaking with town councilors, she did not believe they would support that increase.

Councilor Linda Caprara said even the 5.4% proposed increase is too much.

“We are facing a revaluation in another year or so and 5.4% is way too high for me,” she said. “Property taxes in this state are outrageous. People can’t afford their taxes. Where is the money going to come from?”

Foley said the proposed budget is thoughtful and responsible.

“It’s not extravagant, it’s intentional,” Foley said. “It reflects what we believe is needed to bring our schools to the next level. Our students deserve nothing less and with your support we can give them the future they deserve.”

Foley said the budget cuts the equivalent of 2.5 staff positions.

Town councilors are scheduled to review the municipal budget in a budget workshop at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 30, at the town office.