School budget cuts loom
Published on January 30th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - Draft one of the school department's 2002/03 budget was presented to the School Committee two weeks ago illustrating that, for a maintenance level budget, the school department would need a seven percent increase over the current year. This proposed increase is higher than what the Finance Board said the town could afford when its chairman, Richard Gregorio, met with the School Committee in December.
Draft one includes the filling of four secondary program supervisor positions. On Thursday, the School Committee voted in favor of directing Connelly to begin the process of filling these positions about two months earlier than planned. In doing so, the Committee hopes to have the needed cost information before the budget is finalized.
If any or all of the positions can be filled from within, Connelly said that some savings can be realized over the draft one projection for the positions. If, as Connelly said it might, the Committee finds itself in a reduction mode, having a better feel of the budget climate as well as knowing the resultant cost implications of the search prior to budget finalization would prove very helpful. The Committee can then decide whether or not modifications in the plan are needed.
"This is one of few opportunities to save money without impacting another area of the budget," Connelly said.
However, Committee members stressed that hiring the right people for the jobs was of utmost importance.
Connelly also pointed out to the School Committee something he wished to clarify about a headline in the Jan. 16 edition of The Stoneham Independent regarding the draft one budget presented at the Jan. 10 School Committee meeting. The contents of the article, he said, were very accurate, but the headline suggested that the Superintendent would not budge on the draft one budget figure.
The headline said, “Superintendent says 7% increase is as low as they’ll go.” Connelly meant “as low as they’ll go with the same staff and service level.”
The schools are ready and willing to make cuts if that’s what is necessary to balance the town budget, Connelly said.
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