Schools show even budget
Published on February 18th, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - Budget talk continued at the last School Committee meeting as the board reinforced its stance on the override question.
According to Chairman Marc Grimaldi, the School Committee has taken a position to support a full proposition 2 1/2 override. As of their last meeting, Stoneham's budget gap was estimated between $4 and 5 million and, although the School Committee has identified another $2 million in cuts to the School Department budget as ordered by the Board of Selectmen, Grimaldi said that his committee does not support any of them.
In developing the list of cuts, School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly said that administrators and principals had to make sure further reductions do not deem the system noncompliant with state mandates and jeopardize state funding.
"We do not support these reductions. We're hoping that there will be support for an override to avoid these harmful reductions...We think the only viable solution is an override but again, that's a decision the Selectmen have to make," Connelly said.
The Board of Selectmen made a decision this week -- following submission of a balanced budget by the Town Administrator -- to go with a combined debt exclusion and property 2 1/2 override. .
Finance Board member John Warren described an override as a "permanent tax increase." State law restricts communities from raising taxes more than 2 PI percent a year. A proposition 2 PI override would allow taxes to rise as much as the town dictates over and above the mandated 2 PI percent.. This raises the tax base and after that year for which an override has been approved, the 2 PI increase for subsequent years is based on that higher tax rate.
Warren said the cost of a $5 million override would be about $1.70 per $1,000 of assessed property value or, on average, about $500 more per household. A $4 million override would be needed "just to tread water," Warren said..
Connelly presented draft one of the School Department 2005 budget in January which totaled $22,992,155 and said last week that this was not a "pie in the sky, inflated budget with the anticipation of being forced to reduce it." All reductions have already taken place to get to draft one, he said.
"Certainly, there is not $2 million there to be reduced without hurting very important programs in schools that we're proud of." But he outlined the obligatory cuts as follows.
At the high school level, 9 teaching positions would be cut as well as all extracurricular activities and interscholastic sports, including the entire Freshman program, golf, cheerleading, volleyball, gymnastics, tennis and some reductions to track.
The impact of these reductions at the high school level, Connelly said, could be larger class sizes, lower MCAS scores, and accreditation issues, as well as at least 230 students with no sports to participate in.
An increase in user fees for remaining sports would be needed, even though Athletic Director Mike Lahiff contends that Stoneham already has the second highest user fee in the Middlesex League.
At the Middle School level, 11.1 teaching positions would be cut, decimating the Middle School concept which Connelly said has been successful. The Middle School would also lose it Fine Arts program, and an assistant principal.
In the elementary schools, 10 teaching positions would be cut from grades K-5, along with the entire library, art, music and PE programs. Reductions to teachers aide and tech aide positions would also be necessary. Class sizes would increase.
"These aren't scare tactics. This is reality," Connelly said.
Systemwide reductions involve cutting Programs Supervisors by 1.4 positions, and eliminating a Central Office Administrator, the Elementary Curriculum Director, two part time secretaries, and two janitors.
"We just spent $46 million on those beautiful schools and we do have to maintain them," Connelly said referring to the cuts to an already small janitorial staff.
Connelly also said that cuts at the elementary level would result in an understaffing of 14 classrooms, as well as all the art, music, and reading rooms, computer and science labs, library media centers and four 5,000-square foot gymnasiums.
"I don't think that's what we meant for these four brand new schools."
By contract, teachers are not required to announce their intent to retire until May. This year, staff has been urged to announce retirements earlier for budget purposes. As retirements are made known, adjusting those veteran salaries down to entry level salaries takes place. The state's Circuit Breaker law may result in some funds coming to Stoneham's aid. Connelly said that as these adjustments are made, cuts will be restored by priority.
He also said that if an override failed, redistricting of students may have to be revisited to balance enrollment.
Former School Committee member David Sheils told the packed high school library that he wanted to do an override last year, and for him, investing in his property is worth another $400-$500.
"It's not going to be cheap but let's be honest - we've been very, very fortunate."
Park Ave. resident Paul Ryder supported what he described as a combination of tactics to bridge the gap including an override, budget cuts, and development of the former hospital site, a project he referred to as a major redevelopment project for the town that was held up by a limited number of residents.
Crystal Drive resident Chuck DeCoste was the lone voice who said that he would rather not see an override. With four children in or heading into the school system, DeCoste said he too wants a top notch education in Stoneham, but fears he and many others might not be able to afford to stay in town.
"I would rather write out a check...for 500 bucks to take care of this thing. I'd rather do that one time and know its over with than do an override because we're going to increase our tax base...There are a lot of seniors who want to stay in town. This will hurt them."
But School Committee member Dan Moynihan reminded the audience that as unpleasant this task has been, the School Committee has to make these difficult decisions on behalf of the largest department in town.
"We're one department. We don't want to be here asking for more money. It seems to be an annual event. We're given parameters by the town and we're here to report what the consequence of those parameters is."
The consequences for the school department, he admitted, were not pretty nor are they attractive for all other departments in town, but voters must decide if they want to live with the numbers or change the numbers. The Board of Selectmen is expected to advise its position this week.
School Committee Waives Policy
Following budget discussion, Connelly requested that the School Committee waive its policy on residency for one family.
Without going into detail, Connelly directed the committee's attention to a letter from a former Stoneham family who has requested that their children be allowed to stay in the Stoneham Public Schools through the end of the school year, despite having moved out of town in November. The family, who Connelly described as having lived in Stoneham for a number of years, has indicated that the children would enroll in their new school system for next year.
School Committee policy states that students who move out of town must unenroll from Stoneham schools unless that move is after April 1. The policy does allow, however, for situations to be reviewed individually and the policy be waived if the School Committee agrees that "extenuating circumstances" are involved.
Only the School Committee can waive the policy and it did so unanimously on Thursday for this case.
"It's in the students best interest to stay," Connelly said, pointing out that the request is for a limited period of time. "It's not really waiving the policy, but waiving the month."
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!