School Comm. Offers more than 500k in cuts
Published on February 14th, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - In preparation for its budget meetings with the Finance Board and Board of Selectmen, the School Committee on Thursday night shaved off thousands of dollars from the school department's draft one budget that was, according to the town, about $1 million out of the question.
From the first draft of the FY2002 budget, which totalled $20,683,454, School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly identified five areas of potential cuts that would bring the difference between school and town recommendations closer together.
The committee approved a savings of about $200,000 in teachers' salaries made possible by a large number of impending retirements.
Connelly explained that according to their contracts, teachers have until May 1 to notify the school department on whether or not they will retire prior to the start of the next school year. However, because of the budget crisis facing the school for next year, teachers have willingly notified the School Department early in an effort to assist in FY2002 budget development.
The retiring teachers will be replaced, but at starting salaries lower than those of the departing veterans.
Nearly $45,000 was cut from fixed costs. The original projection for next year's health insurance represented a 22 percent increase over the current year's cost. Recent information from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting indicates, however, that this line item will increase at a slightly lower rate of 18.3 percent.
Switching to part-time in house staffing for special education physical therapy is expected to save the system about $10,000 over contracting out this service, which was originally called for in the budget draft.
Draft one also included hiring three additional special education teachers, but after review of projected case loads with school principals, Director of Pupil Personnel Bob McArdle advised that one of those additions could be eliminated without adversely affecting the program. This savings totals $35,647.
Reducing director salaries in fine arts and guidance could save an additional $48,000. This move would maintain directors of these areas in the Middle and High Schools, but at the elementary level principals would assume the responsibility of overseeing guidance and fine arts staffing.
School Committee Chairman Jeanne Craigie acknowledged that this move would also increase the burden on other existing administrators in the system, including those who will have to assume more MCAS related responsibilities.
"This is not a direction we'd like to take, Connelly agreed, but he added, In very difficult budget times...(this) does not have a direct impact on the quality (of the educational programs).
School Committee member Marc Grimaldi suggested that the Committee review the recommendations and meet with the Finance Board and the Selectmen before taking action on the reductions. However, the majority of the board opted to move forward and vote its approval on four of the five cuts, with Grimaldi abstaining.
No action was taken on the potential cut in fine arts and guidance directors until after meeting with the appropriate bargaining unit as required contractually.
The draft one budget represented a 10.66 percent increase over the current year. In total, these five cuts would save $338,584, which would bring that budget increase down to 8.8 percent.
Connelly speculated that a forthcoming budget recommendation from the town is likely to total $19,800,000. If this is the case and if the fifth cut mentioned above is approved, the gap between the town and the school will be approximately $545,000 - a much more workable difference than the $1.1 million standing between the two sides a couple of weeks ago.
Craigie also suggested to the School Committee that it forgo its $2,900 membership in the National School Board Association for next year and instructed Connelly to include that savings in the next budget draft.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!