Schools want $5 million to finish building project
Published on October 3rd, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - The October Town Meeting warrant which closed on Friday, Sept. 28, includes the School Department’s wish list: four warrant articles totaling more than $5.1 million.
Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 29.
Last May, Town Meeting voters approved a $20 million budget for the School Department to do its business for the current academic year. According to School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly, voters this time around will be asked to fund the articles which reflect unanticipated expenses or costs that the school budget just cannot handle.
One article seeks $20,000 for immediate capital needs. $16,000 of that figure is for redesign of emergency lighting at the high school, as dictated by the town's Building Inspector. The balance is needed to cover a medical accommodation required by federal law.
Another article seeks $186,000 for underfunded line items in the 2001-2002 budget.
Part of that figure, $161,000, is comprised of heat, utilities, and equipment repair and upkeep, all of which were intentionally underfunded during the budget process with the understanding that the school department would be in need of additional funds for these areas come fall.
In addition, a new state mandate requiring systems to pay for temporary insurance for resigned and retired employees became effective on June 30 and adds $25,000 to that underfunded number.
A separate warrant article asks for $60,000 to pay vacation liability of staff who have previously banked vacation days.
Two years ago, $180,000 in vacation liability was identified. Under a previous policy, staff members who did not use all their vacation time were entitled to salary compensation for that unused time upon resignation or retirement.
However, in an effort to avoid such liability in the future, the policy has since been changed to a "use it or lose it" one for all vacation time.
In the first year of a three-year plan, Town Meeting last year approved $60,000, or one-third of the liability. This month, Town Meeting will be requested to fund another $60,000 and the final $60,000 will likely be sought next year to eliminate the liability entirely.
"We decided it was better to pay it and get rid of it," said School Committee Vice Chairman Jeanne Craigie.
Finally, voters will be asked to cover over-expenditures in the elementary school building program.
Taxpayers are currently funding the $40 million project, but with unanticipated and extensive remediation of the railroad right of way on the new Central School project, along with an unfavorable bid climate, that figure is too low to complete the last two schools in the project.
Despite the additional funding needed, Craigie pointed out that the schools are being designed exactly as they were presented to and approved by Town Meeting in 1997.
Apart from the above warrant articles, the School Department is looking for the town to send additional money its way, once Stoneham's free cash position is determined.
For the last several years, the town has been able to allocate a portion of the free cash total to the schools to address capital needs that exist at the High School and Middle School.
The town's free cash does not address capital needs at the elementary school buildings since these are addressed under the elementary school building project.
The requests detailed above do not match up exactly with the draft of warrant articles released from Town Hall on Sept. 28, but with all the last minute filing and compromising inherent in the process, the above details provide insight into what the schools want, regardless of whether they get or even ask for it at the Oct. 29 Town Meeting.
Central School update
With regard to the new Central School which did not open on schedule last month, Craigie reported that an occupancy permit may be issued as early as later this week.
She cautioned, however, that the permit does not mean that the building is ready for students to move in immediately. She estimated that about three weeks would be needed to clean and furnish it, but added that the dedication ceremony is still on the calendar for Oct. 27.
South School parking woes
Traffic congestion at the South School is a problem once again this year, and plans to rectify the traffic flow continue to evolve.
Cars have been allowed to "live park" in the fire lane inside the South School driveway, but in reality, parents have been using this area as a parking lot, rather than the drop off/pick up space it was intended to be.
Cars are also parking on the opposite side of the driveway, leaving only a very narrow path for traffic to flow through.
"It's an accident waiting to happen," Connelly said.
To rectify the problem, Connelly told the School Committee last month that free standing signs would be placed designating the areas for parking.
In addition, a traffic supervisor will be posted at the school to enforce the parking rules and to maintain student safety.
Former Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Keroack will be honored for her six years of service to the Stoneham school system at a reception on Oct. 10 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Senior Center on Elm Street. The public is invited. Keroack left Stoneham in July to take on the challenge of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Instruction and Assessment in the Malden Public Schools.
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