The Martha’s Vineyard Schools superintendent has come in with a proposed budget that is up 2.2 per cent over last year, breaking a trend of large increases in recent years.

The $5.9 million budget includes staffing for the central office as well as shared services in the public schools, including special education services.

Many line items are level funded or down this year; one exception is spending on the Bridge program, which provides education services for students with severe disabilities. Bridge costs are projected to increase sharply next year due to the addition of a partial middle school classroom at the West Tisbury School to meet the growing needs of the program. The draft budget calls for spending $1.1 million on the program, an increase of 17 per cent.

By contrast, Project Headway, a public preschool program for children with special needs, will see a 22 per cent drop in spending at a total cost of $414,394. Lower enrollment is the chief factor.

Schools superintendent Dr. Matthew D’Andrea, who is in his first year, said the budget represents a concerted effort to rein in spending.

“It’s been my goal to try to slow the growth of all the budgets, and that’s what I’m trying to do here,” he said.

The budget is due to come before the All-Island school committee for a vote late this month; no date has been set yet for the meeting.