School Committee adds bus fee to help offset deficit

Parents of elementary school children who live less than two miles from their school can expect a $180 bus fee for the next school year as School Committee members began dealing with a $1.39 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year.

The new fee, which amounts to $1 per school day, will be charged to parents who live one to two miles from school and want their children bused.

On Thursday night, March 31, School Committee members pared about $650,000 from the total deficit and will meet tonight (April 7) and next Thursday, April 14, in the CHS distance learning lab to complete the $32 million budget plan in time for the start of town meeting on Monday, April 25. Committee members still have to come up with another $739,193 in cuts.

Last week, School Superintendent Jeff Granatino outlined a worst-case scenario in which three elementary school teachers, two middle school teachers, and three high school teachers would all be cut; however, Granatino, along with School Committee members and the school principals, also discussed the option of cutting hours from many of the positions, including various specialists and library assistants at the middle and high schools.

Still on the table is the subject of high school athletics and the possible elimination of three sports programs: golf, gymnastics and swimming. School Committee members focused Thursday’s meeting on everything but athletics, but they did say that user fees will increase by at least $25 per sport — from $125 to $150 — and could go as high as $195 per sport, with a family cap in both scenarios.

A substantial portion of the budget reductions approved on Thursday came from projected savings in special education ($208,000), salary adjustments ($71,000), school supplies ($18,000) and energy costs ($10,000). The committee also accounted for more than $300,000 in new revenues, including $230,000 in one-time funds from a federal Jobs Bill grant, $60,000 in additional bus fee revenue, $25,000 from preschool enrollment increases, and a possible increase in the hourly rate charged to the Recreation Department for use of school gyms and fields (to be negotiated with the Recreation Department).

In addition, the committee approved cuts to certain educational assistant positions ($44,500) and a hearing impaired specialist ($13,500).

Besides looking at high school athletics and cutting staff members, the School Committee decided to look closely at the budget for substitute teachers. According to school business manager Ken Leon, $263,000 was budgeted this year for substitutes, and as of March 31, $239,000 had been spent.

Committee members suggested that the district could save money by using fewer substitutes at the high school, where students could instead use the library or tutoring center. Granatino is expected to meet with administrators to map out a new plan for the use of substitutes.

In other budget news from Thursday’s meeting:

* Canton Teachers Association President Pat Phelan will meet with Granatino to offer the teachers union’s input on the budget cuts. * School Committee members said they are reluctant to cut the PACE program and the middle school alternative education program.

* Staff cuts at the middle and high schools will result in more studies and, particularly at the high school, fewer electives in English and languages.

* Last week’s meeting, which lasted three and a half hours, weighed heavily on the School Committee members. Several department heads at the high school told committee members that even a fraction of a cut would impact their program, particularly in art and music.

In her last meeting as chairman, committee member Reuki Schutt looked up and said, “All of these cuts really stink. All of you do so well in your programs. I really hate doing this.”

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Posted by Mike Berger on Apr 7 2011. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.