The first draft of the school budget for fiscal year 2014 calls for a 2.85 percent increase over this year, interim Superintendent Joe Connelly told the School Committee on Monday. The proposed budget would total $11.8 million, up from about $11.5 million this fiscal year.
“This is the minimum—the absolutely necessary funding level for us to maintain our level of service,” Connelly said.
Source: Budget Draft Proposal, Superintendent’s Office
The school budget is broken down into six cost centers: central office (administration), Hildreth Elementary School, the Bromfield School (grades six through 12), special education, facilities, and technology. (See chart)
The first draft of the budget shows some cost centers with sharp increases, while others are up minimally. Hildreth Elementary School costs are projected to rise almost 6 percent ($140,654), mainly because of increased salary costs that result from staff transfers, personnel changes, and higher degree levels among faculty. Step increases and cost-of-living raises are a smaller factor. On the other hand, costs for the Bromfield School are expected to go up only 1.34 percent ($49,996), as budgeting for new staff assumes that most will come in at lower steps than those who are leaving or retiring.
Costs for the central office could be up more than $48,000 next year, mainly because the district plans to hire a new, full-time superintendent by then. Salary costs for the current interim superintendent’s position have been held below market level because Connelly is able to collect his pension while on the job.
Connelly also foresees rising expenses for special education, largely because, he said, state subsidies (the “circuit breaker” funds) may well be cut. The proposed $72,010 increase would represent a 2 percent jump from the current year.
The smallest piece of the budget pie, technology, is expected to increase about 2.85 percent, or $4,894. However, the actual increase in expenditures for supplies and equipment is predicted to be substantially more, around $65,000. Connelly proposed adding $60,000 in funds from the Devens education contract to the technology budget to cover the difference between the total cost and what the town is asked to pay.
Connelly praised the cooperation of school principals Linda Dwight and Jim O’Shea, as well as department heads and administrative staff, especially his administrative assistant Mary Zadroga, in putting together the massive binder of material that provides both the budget figures and a wide range of background information on which the budget is based.
