JOHNSTON — The School Committee has opted to wait for more information about a potential influx of stimulus aid before it follows through on a plan to cut teachers’ salaries by 3.5 percent in a bid to balance its budget, board Chairwoman Janice Mele said yesterday.

The committee had voted to reduce teachers’ pay as of Friday, to save an estimated $775,000 through June 30, Mele said. The cut was part of an overall plan to address a $1.2-million aid cut proposed by Governor Carcieri.

Since then, Carcieri has put forth a new midyear budget proposal that would offer the schools more than $300,000 in extra aid and restore $126,000 in money for teacher training between now and June 30. The proposal still needs approval from the General Assembly.

School officials hope such stimulus aid would allow the district to avoid taking money from teachers, Mele said, and they believe the district might be able to get the information it needs at a meeting on April 3 about using the money.

“We don’t want to take anything from the teachers’ pay, but if we have to, we have to,” Mele said.

As of yesterday morning, finance officials from the state Department of Education were expected to meet with district business managers from around the state on April 3.

But department spokesman Elliot Krieger said it was unlikely the officials would have more detailed information on any constraints in time for the meeting.

mreynold@projo.com