School Comm. ok's final budget
Published on April 19th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - The Stoneham Public Schools budget is prepared for Town Meeting presentation, and the tally is $18,650,000 for the academic year of 2000-2001.
The figure represents an $894,000 increase, or five percent, over the current year budget. In its unanimous vote of acceptance on Thursday, the School Committee pointed out, however, that that still won't be quite enough to run the schools next year.
In addition to this figure, another $275,000 will be requested of Town Meeting for school related expenses through three separate warrant articles.
Article 21 on the Annual Town Meeting warrant requests $125,000 for technology improvements; article 22 requests $130,000 for MCAS related instructional materials; and article 23 seeks $20,000 for a feasibility study on the renovation or replacement of the Middle School.
School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly had previously described these expenses as one-time, unique costs, which, therefore, have been kept separate from the budget.
New School Committee member Marc Grimaldi called the request for townspeople to fund a feasibility study for the Middle School "a tall glass of water" at a time when there are still three elementary schools to be built.
If a feasibility study is approved by Town Meeting and it recommends rebuilding or renovation of the building, under the state's current program, the state would fund 63 percent of the project cost, with taxpayers funding the balance.
Committee Chairwoman Jeanne Craigie advised, however, that state assistance for such building projects might not be around in the future and that if Stoneham begins the process soon, it might be safely in line for funding when and if those monies are cut off.
She called the condition of the Middle School "less than adequate," and stated, "I think there is a need...It makes good financial sense looking to the future."
Connelly stated that if money is appropriated for the study this spring, a feasibility committee would be formed in the fall. If a major renovation project is undertaken, he recommended commencing it on the heels of the elementary school project in order to avoid closing the old Central School for any time period before reopening it later for use as interim space.
Acceptance of the warrant articles passed with Grimaldi voting in opposition.
Regarding the $18,650,000 budget request, there is a one-time cost included in the form of $211,075 for reopening of the South School. Connelly highlighted other increases as well, such as $183,069 for increased health insurance costs and $217,301 for state mandated special education increases. These three line items make up 3.4 percent of the total 5 percent increase.
"We're only asking for what we need, not what we think we need. The finance board supports this approach," Connelly said.
In other budget related discussion on Thursday, the committee voted unanimously to rent out the North School to the SEEM Collaborative, effective July 1 for one year.
SEEM was one of two parties which entered into rental discussions with the school department once the decision was made to close the North School for economic reasons and move the programs housed there to the South and Robin Hood schools.
The SEEM Collaborative was chosen in part due to its smaller student body (25-38 students are expected next year) which would impact the Collincote Street neighborhood minimally. The second interested party, a private school, had a student body of 175-200 students.
At a public meeting last month, the School Committee set forth the following conditions of leasing the building, including: a one-year lease; only a school program would be allowed; the lessee is responsible for maintenance and utility expenses; the playground would remain available to the neighborhood; and at least $75,000 would be required for the year to justify the move.
The private school offered $92,000 for the year; SEEM offered $92,800.
The rental income will not affect the budget's bottom line, according to Connelly. Instead of applying that money to North School operating expenses, Connelly stated that it will be transferred to teacher contract salary negotiations. In addition, he recommended earmarking only $75,000 of the $92,800 to salary negotiations since the school department will still be responsible for major repairs to the Collincote Street building and the balance of $17,800 should be saved for such.
Grimaldi questioned the likelihood of spending the rental money on salary negotiations and then not renting out the building.
"My sense is that the rental contract will precede final negotiations," stated Connelly.
Connelly advised the School Committee to develop a warrant article for the Special Town Meeting in June to allow the school department to set up a revolving account for the rental income.
If Town Meeting does not approve such an article, the rental revenue can only be used for upkeep of the North School building, which negates the intent of renting out the school.
The School Committee also opted out of participating in school choice last week, as it has done each year.
Under the Education Reform Act, school systems are automatically enrolled in the program, which would allow nonresident students to enroll in Stoneham schools. School systems must annually vote to opt out of the program if they do not wish to participate. The committee unanimously opted out, favoring, as Craigie put it, "...using our space for our children," and cited lack of space as its reason.
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