LEWISTON — The School Committee on Monday voted 7-2 to increase the budget for 2016-17 by $192,000 to pay for four new teaching positions.

The budget originally proposed Monday night called for $68.8 million, which is $4.1 million more than this fiscal year.

The spending plan will be presented to the City Council on April 19.

Ward 4 committee member Paul St. Pierre declared outright that he would vote against the $68.8 million budget as it was presented. The proposal was too small, he said, and would fall far short of meeting the needs of the students.

Additionally, St. Pierre said he was concerned that the budget did not allow any way for the school system to react to a sudden influx of new students or other unforeseen circumstances.

The original budget of $68.8 million offered the minimum required local share in order for the Lewiston school system to receive a 100 percent state educational subsidy.

That, St. Pierre said, “is a poor reason to settle on that amount.”

The vote was 4-5 against the original amount.

“Back to step one,” committee Chairwoman Linda Scott said.

Scott suggested that the committee come up with a new proposal rather than simply table the discussion until next week’s meeting. After another 30 minutes of discussion, a motion was made to present the adjusted budget, which adds $192,000 to hire two more classroom teachers, one additional English Language Learner teacher and one additional library educational technician.

The measure passed by a vote of 7-2, with committee members Matthew Roy and Megan Parks voting in opposition. In spite of the bump in spending, Parks said she still finds the amended budget lacking.

“I believe that we, as School Committee members, are tasked with making decisions that are in the best interests of our students,” Parks said at the conclusion of the meeting. “Submitting a budget that falls so far below our students’ actual needs is a failure to our students, and our community as a whole.”

The teacher’s position allowed by the additional $192,000 spending, according to a memo issued by Superintendent Bill Webster, “would allow Lewiston public schools to meet likely fall 2016 enrollment increases with minimal increases in class size and a consistent level of service for our English Language Learners. Furthermore, the additional ed tech would ensure that all elementary libraries are 100 percent staffed and open during school hours.”

Some city councilors have already expressed concerns about a larger school budget.