Superintendent gives warning of financial woes
Published on November 18th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - It's never too early to think about next year's budget. That was the message from Stoneham School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly to the School Committee last Thursday night as he defined the process for development of the school department's fiscal year 2000 budget.
Connelly reported that town-wide budget guidelines were addressed during the recent financial summit, attended by representatives from the School Committee, Finance Board, and Board of Selectmen, as well as the Town Administrator.
These guidelines define a figure that the town must spend for schools, according to the state's Education Reform requirements. For Stoneham schools, Connelly explained, the resulting expenditure translates into approximately $450,000 over this year's budget of $16.7 million, or roughly an additional 2.5 per cent.
"We do have a challenge before us," Connelly told the committee.
The $16.7 million funded for the current year necessitated drastic cuts in the form of staffing and extra-curricular programs, in addition to the highly publicized elimination of school bus service. This service was later reinstated through funding from the municipal side of the town budget.
In addition to forecasted enrollment increases requiring additional funding for next year, much of that budget increase will likely be eaten up by staffing and previously negotiated salary packages. Updates and additions to programs and curriculums may also be warranted in order to keep pace with the state's standardized MCAS tests on which curriculums are to be based.
"A very real needs-based budget is the way to go," said Connelly.
During the next four to five weeks, he advised, a great deal of input will be solicited from staff and administration regarding identification of needs for the next fiscal year.
Connelly's goal is to have the first draft of the FY 2000 budget to the School Committee by its first meeting in January. He intends to have those needs that will not be eligible for funding in FY 2000, highlighted early on in the budget proceedings, in order to avoid any surprises.
"It's going to be a very challenging budget process for us," stated Connelly.
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