The Mattapoisett School Committee voted during its March 20 public meeting to approve Superintendent of School Mike Nelson’s proposed FY24 school budget of $7,842,346.
The figure above includes $98,922 for Bristol Agricultural High School, which is not included in the general operating budget of $7,743,425. The operating budget represents an increase of $208,382 (2.77%) over the FY23 total ($7,535,043.)
Howie Barber, ORR’s assistant superintendent for Finance and Operations, told the committee during the public hearing that preceded the vote that the Old Rochester Regional administration’s goal has been to provide a zero-based budgetary method, while listening to administrators for school and department goals including new curriculum initiatives needing planning, along with review and recognition of budgetary shortfalls.
In sharing a budgetary comparison between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, Barber displayed how different departments compare.
The FY24 Center School operating budget of $3,077,558 indicates a $20,789 increase over FY23, but Old Hammondtown’s FY24 budget figure of $2,417,689 represents a $112,807 increase over FY23.
Facilities ($837,659 in FY24) is up $119,704 from FY23, Central Office ($252,911 for FY24) is up $41,800 from FY23 and Technology ($166,494 in FY24) is up $13,778 from FY23. By contrast, Student Services ($465,614 in FY24) is down $77,195 from FY23, and Transportation ($525,500 in FY24) is down $23,300 from FY23.
While English and Math departments are proposing increases in excess of $100,000 each for FY24, Mattapoisett voters are being asked to spend almost $300,000 less on teachers’ salaries ($1,548,050, down from $1,847,286 in FY23.) Barber explained the difference in terms of reallocation of teachers to departments where they are needed.
Exclusions from the FY24 operating budget featured: Bristol Aggie and funds from offsets such as Federal Entitlement grants, including students who benefit from the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA at $100,837), Early Childhood Special Education funds and ESSER III ($25,000.)
Other budget offsets include Revolving Funds derived from the School Choice program ($70,000), Project GROW tuitions and school-building rentals and circuit breaker ($232,684.)
Two Mattapoisett students attending Bristol Aggie as of October 1, 2022, cost $22,010 each in tuition and $5,401 each in debt service, along with $44,100 in total transportation costs.
Student enrollment in Mattapoisett Schools is down 2.36% from 424 in FY23 to 414 for FY24.
The town is looking at $992,801 in Chapter 70 state aid for FY24, an increase of $12,420 (1.27%) over FY23. Barber reminded the School Committee that being the governor’s proposal, the number could change.
When Barber concluded his budget summary, Chairperson Carly Lavin opened the floor to the public. There were no comments from the public, so the public hearing was closed.
Upon a motion to approve and a second, committee member Cristin Cowles asked administration and Mattapoisett Schools principals Linda Ashley and Kevin Tavares if the budget could adequately support literacy initiatives for the 2023-24 school year.
“We believe it will meet our FY24 needs for the reasons Mr. Barber stated,” said Nelson.
Lavin sought clarification on the effects of the budget on curriculum.
After a unanimous vote approving the proposed budget, the committee also voted to approve the transfer of $70,000 in revenue from the School Choice program.
In other business, the School Committee began a series of discussions on School Choice for FY24. Nelson told the committee that the town is still waiting on the long-awaited report from the UMass Boston Collins Center concluding its study on Mattapoisett public facilities, including an analysis of potential school consolidation.
The committee voted to approve the following: a $10,000 Safe and Supportive Schools Grant that enables self-assessment; a donation of 20 5-gallon plastic buckets to use as drums from the Home Depot in Dartmouth; donations from the Parent-Teacher Association, $6,075.75 to repair the step at Old Hammondtown School and upgrade the basketball courts, $2,472.30 for two metal picnic tables and $2,220 for two soccer nets at Old Hammondtown.
In her Chairperson’s Report, Lavin expressed appreciation to the ORR Administration for a well-organized job budgeting for the FY24 year. Lavin advocated for literacy, noting the drawback of less money to dedicate to READS specialists. She also asked the administration to look for opportunities to support working parents of students with more services.
Nelson recognized participants and music directors for their work in the recent choral performance at ORR.
In the Principals reports, Tavares was happy to note the student-faculty basketball game would finally settle on March 28 at the high school. A combined art show would happen at Center School on March 21. Ashley thanked ORR basketball players for time spent speaking to the elementary students.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for Monday, April 3 at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett School Committee
By Mick Colageo