School board approves $34.6M budget for FY15

The School Committee decided to come in line with what the Finance Committee and Finance Director Jim Murgia has recommended for an operating budget for the next fiscal year.

The committee voted to send a budget of $34,629,256 to the May 11 town meeting. That figure represents an increase of 3.9 percent, or $1.3 million, over the current budget, with most of the increase (almost $1 million) earmarked for contract obligations.

The committee decided not to send two budgets to town meeting after meeting with FinCom representatives a few weeks ago. As a result, they did not fund approximately $700,000 in what had been characterized as “needs-based” items.

The FinCom target was $34,520,505 and the budget approved by the committee Thursday night, April 3, is over the target by $108,732. Almost $81,000 of the overage is for a projected shortfall in special education and transportation costs.

The committee’s budget includes just under $350,000 in mandatory new spending for state program requirements and to curb rising class sizes in grade 1.

The new spending in the budget allows for additional part-time instructors in world languages and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and guidance support at the high school; additional behavioral assistance at the Galvin; a district-wide social worker; a district-wide English Language Learning (ELL) teacher; 1.5 additional elementary school teachers; and two special education teachers for the Galvin and CHS.

There is also some funding for a partial late bus for the middle and high schools, funding to continue the successful CHS student mentoring program called the “Boomerang Project,” membership fees for the Mass. Association of School Committees, renewal of software licenses, safety materials for school playgrounds, and maintenance and supplies for school copiers.

Excluded from the budget and deemed as needs-based items were two additional teachers for elective courses at CHS; two more teachers at the Galvin to reduce study halls; three special educators at the elementary level for support services; $102,980 in instructional, office, and library supplies; textbook replenishment at CHS; a system-wide maintenance vehicle; elementary audio-visual maintenance; a district-wide board certified behavioral analyst; and after-school tutoring increases at CHS.

See this week’s Canton Citizen for additional school news, including the naming of a JFK principal, potential changes to the school calendar, and more from the April 3 School Committee meeting.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Apr 10 2014. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.