Schools talk revenue
Published on March 19th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - There are two sides to every budget but with the magnitude of problems Stoneham's budget is facing, the School Committee had time to discuss only half of the story on Thursday.
While the committee did manage to cut about $65,000 from next year's school budget, slimming the total FY04 figure to $22,595,608, discussion on maximizing revenue took up most of last week's agenda, forcing discussion on cuts to be put off until this week.
Several ideas for increasing revenue have been discussed previously and last week, Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connolly reported on the status of those ideas. Surveys to parents as well as meetings with PTOs yielded helpful input on a variety of topics.
Initial response to a full day Kindergarten fee program was relatively low, Connelly said, but parents did provide good feedback on the idea and asked for more information.
While about 23 families said they were interested, many said that the $4,000 fee was too high.
"I think this is a potential opportunity for parents in Stoneham...I want to try to do whatever we can...to expand that opportunity," said School Committee member Marc Grimaldi. Committee member Cheryl Walsh said the program idea needs to be better publicized.
"This is a new program...I want to attract people to (it)," agreed Chairman Daniel Moynihan.
A follow up survey is expected to go out this week seeking interest in the program at a modified fee of $3,500. Quarterly payment plans may also be offered.
According to Connelly, this fee is very competitive and translates into under $20 per day for a full day program. With all four elementary school building projects nearly complete, space would allow Stoneham to offer four full day sessions in addition to the public two and a half day program. At 20 students per session, the new program could be a significant revenue producer.
Reading is charging $4,000 for its full day Kindergarten program.
Parents also weighed in on the discussion of expanding after-school child care.
An initial survey of parents indicated a desire for such a program in each of the four neighborhood elementary schools.
"We received a remarkable response," Connelly said. The survey yielded interest for over 100 students from across the district.
Revenue from Stoneham's existing after-school child care program, which is housed in the new Central School, covers all program costs and offsets other budget areas. While the program is successful, it maxes out at 35 students per day. Expanding the program would expand revenue.
Following discussions with the PTOs, other expansion ideas are being investigated for the program including vacation and summertime care.
"I think it's very, very conceivable that we will be offering the after-school child care program in each neighborhood school next year...It meets a community need and it generates revenue," Connelly said.
A proposed doubling of athletic user fees could also raise revenue and save teaching positions.
Last year the fee was increased from $75 to $100 per student, per sport. A jump to $200 could raise revenue by an additional $40,000 to $60,000 and is now under consideration. According to School Committee members, that proposal has been met with mixed reviews.
"I've gotten many phone calls. I think we may want to revisit how much we charge...It seems to put the onus on a fairly small group of active parents whose kids do participate," said Committee member David Sheils.
But Moynihan reported that some people have no problem with the fee. Two people at the recent PTO forum he attended said they would be in favor of raising it even more.
"There are obviously very different viewpoints out there."
Connelly said that parents have told him they do not want to be hit with increased user fees and a tax override. The question of an override continues to loom over the heads of Stoneham taxpayers as a means to dig the town out of a financial hole.
"Clearly, we're hoping the whole town supports an override but we cannot unfairly overburden one group of parents," the Superintendent said.
Other creative solutions for bridging the budget deficit that have surfaced in past weeks include the sale and lease of school owned property.
On Saturday, the School Committee held a fresh air meeting to walk two sites of potential land sale. The first area visited was an empty parcel that runs adjacent to the high school driveway on Emerald Court. The parcel measures approximately 10,000 square feet. The second site is about 8.8 acres of unused land behind the high school running between Dapper Darby Drive and Karen Road. The Committee took no action on either parcel, but could do so this week.
"Before I would ever make a decision to give back the land...I would want input from the community," said Committee member Marie Christie. "I know there is a vast majority of people out there who do not want us to get rid of that property."
Future expansion of the high school campus with a field house has been a desire of some residents for the past twenty years, Christie said, and getting rid of land now will not help that dream ever materialize.
Moynihan said having the land professionally surveyed will determine if it is buildable or of any value.
The School Committee suggested that the Board of Selectmen open the warrant for a special Town Meeting in case it wanted to go forward with an article requesting approval on sale of the land. The Committee also urged the selectman to likewise perform a property inventory of any saleable town land.
The School Committee is also struggling with what to do with the old Central School on William Street after this school year.
The Central School population moved into its new building over a year ago and since September the old building has been housing the Robin Hood and Colonial Park Schools as those school buildings undergo renovation. Both projects are expected to be completed for the start of school this September, leaving the old Central standing vacant.
Connelly has said previously that leasing the building rather than selling it would be the better move because of possible future educational benefit. Specifically, Connelly said on Thursday that "if four, five, or eight years down the road we have the chance to renovate the Middle School, that piece of property will be invaluable."
No formal request has been made to the town to renovate the Middle School, but a Feasibility Committee determined that if the town was to approve yet another school building project, renovating the existing building is the best solution. Should that project come to fruition, the old Central School building would house Middle School students for the duration of the project.
In the meantime, leasing the old building to an educational program is considered the next best solution. One educational collaborative has expressed mild interest.
Grimaldi agreed that leasing the building could be a lucrative venture.
"I think we would be very short-sighted at this point to consider selling that in any respect. I don't think we've marketed it as aggressively as we can...I think that's a very, very valuable piece of property that can generate a lot of revenue."
Leasing to a commercial interest could require costly changes to the building to make it functional commercial space, yet it could also garner higher rental income.
"It's too valuable an asset to part with at this point. The revenue stream that could eventually be generated is more important long term to residents than a one time gain from selling this asset," Sheils said.
Budget discussion is expected to continue this Thursday. Depending on the status of interviews this week, the agenda may include public interviews for Robin Hood School principal candidates. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m
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