The Marion School Committee received an introduction to the school district’s fiscal year 2021 budget on January 15, a budget that, with additional funding from state special education reimbursement and grants, will cost the town a mere one-tenth of a percent more than last year’s budget.
“So it’s pretty good,” commented Superintendent Doug White.
Overall, general education is up $138,030 and special education is down by $43,504, for a total budget increase of $94,526.
White pointed to social-emotional support, funding for computers, and professional development as the “three big areas” where funding was added in the draft FY21 budget.
The budget includes a .4 FTE (full-time equivalent) social worker to address growing needs for social-emotional support; a position that White said was eliminated a few years ago.
“But as we look at our student body and our student needs, we feel that that’s an area that we need to bring someone back and we also feel that we can do that gradually over time,” said White.
The second area that merits concern, White said, is funding for computers that for years was covered by donations no longer available to Sippican School. That line item will call for an additional $20,000 to manage the existing Chromebook leases and other computer-related costs.
There is also an additional need for professional development specifically addressing literacy, White said.
“Everything else has pretty much either been driven by contract adjustments… and maintaining and sustaining our work that we’re doing,” White said.
White pointed to the transportation line item for Bristol County Agricultural High School that was held separate from the Sippican School budget at the request of the Marion Finance Committee, totaling $117,949.
“The town understands that it is an educational cost,” White said, but he stated that it does not affect the Sippican School budget.
White reminded the committee that this was a draft budget that won’t be complete until the governor’s budget is approved and made public on January 22. White added that new education legislation called the Student Opportunity Act, a major overhaul of the state’s Chapter 70 funding formula, might bring new dollars to the school district over time.
“But without knowing what the budget numbers will be, it’s tough to make any final decisions on this,” said White, adding that new funding would be dispersed most likely over a period of seven years or so and is contingent upon the school district submitting a written plan on how it would use the funds to close student achievement gaps.
“That’s work that’s going to be happening,” White said, “but on the other side of this, we don’t know how much money we’re getting yet; therefore, we don’t know how big a plan or how little a plan [we’ll need] to develop.
“We have been doing a lot of work with less money,” White continued. “We have a good strategic plan that set us up to close our gaps already, and I think that we may be able to tap into some of the things we’re already doing and use some of those dollars to offset [the budget].”
White again emphasized that any additional funding will be spread out over time.
“You’re not getting the whole enchilada in one swoop,” he said.
School Committee Chairman Michelle Smith said the budget subcommittee has already met with town officials and received some positive feedback.
“They were very receptive and it was really nice,” said Smith. “They did a really great job with the budget… I think it’s going to address the needs of our students, especially when adding the additional social worker.” The committee will take a vote on the FY21 budget during the next meeting of the Marion School Committee, which is scheduled for March 4 at 6:30 pm at Sippican School.
Marion School Committee
By Jean Perry