School Committee members were concerned last month about the first draft of the fiscal year 2015 school budget, which proposed a 6% increase of about $347,000 despite a 2% budget reduction requested by the Finance Committee. On February 5, Superintendent Doug White presented a second draft budget that was considerably lower, with only a $26,000 increase from FY14.
The deepest cuts were to Special Education, while regular education saw several of their budget requests restored.
Instead of increasing the Special Ed budget by $347,000 as originally presented on the first draft FY15 budget, it would be reduced to $76,000 less than the FY14 budget – a whopping reduction of about $444,000 since last month.
“A change in students’ needs,” as White put it, reduced the request of an additional $300,000 for out-of-district placements, now decreased by $143,000, substantially less than FY14.
“So that’s going to change the steps in what we’re doing here,” said White, turning to the regular education budget.
The current regular education budget for FY15 allows for keeping the enrichment teacher at an 8.5 position, an issue of some contention at last month’s meeting when some residents showed up to oppose cutting back enrichment services. Also spared is physical education, slashed last month, but now restored to an 8.5 position.
Reading materials to bring the curriculum into alignment with new Common Core requirements were also added back in.
The FY15 budget currently stands at $5,608,265.
The committee also discussed seeking funding for four capital projects to improve Sippican School: replacing the master clock and all the clocks in each classroom; replacing the floor throughout the building; upgrading the phone system; and replacing outdated technology and wireless technology.
Sippican School Facilities Director Gene Jones said the master clock is connected to the security and fire alarm panels, and parts for the obsolete technology are hard to obtain. Many of the classroom clocks no longer work.
The committee discussed replacing the floor in stages – one wing at a time – to spread the cost out over time.
The phone system is outdated, which Jones said also ties into the security system, linking it to the police and fire, and the wireless technology needs upgrading in order to support the evolving technology goals.
“All things that wouldn’t be covered in the typical yearly budget,” White clarified, just before the committee voted in favor of seeking Town approval for the funding.
The committee also reviewed changing the way the committee recognizes and awards teachers for outstanding work. Rather than individual teachers being singled out for recognition, the consensus among the teachers is that they would prefer to see entire projects, groups, grades, or classes receive recognition for a job well done because teachers say they feel their work is being acknowledged when the children’s work is being acknowledged.
Also during the meeting, the committee reviewed the 2014-2015 school calendar, but the vote to approve the calendar will occur at the Joint School Committee meeting in March.
Several fundraisers were also approved, including one for selling class photos on Sippican School Vocabulary Day on April 11, when the children will dress up like their chosen vocabulary word and parade through the school. Historically, the photographer provides each child with a free individual photo, which she will continue to do; however, class photos will be sold for $10.
The next Marion School Committee meeting is set for 6:30 pm on March 5 at Town House.
By Jean Perry