Coming before the Mattapoisett Select Board on Tuesday night was Finance Committee Chairman Pat Donoghue to advise the board members of her intention to speak out about raising local school budgets and the research she has undertaken to more fully understand why the per-pupil costs between the high school and the town’s two elementary schools is so vast.
Donoghue began by telling the Select Board that as of April 19, the Finance Committee had not yet voted on the matter of whether to support the local school budget. “I’ll be dissenting from approval of the budget,” she said, telling the Select Board members she does not want them to “be surprised” at the May 9 Spring Town Meeting.
As she had at the April 14 meeting of the Finance Committee, Donoghue explained that her research found the elementary schools’ per-pupil costs have risen over 60 percent since 2002, while the high school for the same period has risen 20 percent.
When she inquired during previous budget cycles why costs were escalating, she said she was told by school officials that it costs more to educate elementary school students than high school students. However, when she contacted state officials, she was told the opposite was true.
“That’s a 36-percent difference,” Donoghue said, reiterating that single issue, per-pupil costs, remains a burning question that needs an answer.
Donoghue said that in conversations with both Old Rochester Regional District Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howard Barber, she was told that teachers’ salaries cannot be trimmed until there are retirements. But she pointed out that when a retirement came at the elementary-school level, a new principal was hired. Donoghue also said that both Nelson and Barber have received raises in their compensation, reaching 7.6 percent for Nelson and 6.6 percent for Barber.
“The more I look, the worse it gets,” Donoghue told the board. “I’m losing sleep.”
Select Board Chairman Jordan Collyer said, “We do know that having two elementary schools complicates things.” Donoghue responded, “The issues have to be studied in detail.” Board member Jodi Bauer agreed, saying, “We can’t sustain this.” Board member Tyler Macallister said, “We need people to understand and support us on Town Meeting floor.”
“I need to make a strong enough statement. I don’t think people understand the costs,” Donoghue said.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco said, “Schools should be finding ways to save money. There are plenty of empty classrooms. I’ve tried to talk to the superintendent about possibly working out an agreement with Acushnet – they don’t have a high school.” Continuing on, he said, “The task is a multiyear plan which they have to start … they need to do more homework … this is not sustainable, there will be an override very soon.”
Collyer stated, “My focus is I don’t want to degrade the quality of the education, but we need to look at operational efficiencies. I think there are a lot of things we can do.”
“I’ve got to get people to listen. I’m concerned,” Donoghue concluded. “We are all concerned,” echoed the board members. “I appreciate you looking at the numbers objectively,” Collyer added.
Earlier in the meeting, Tree Committee Chairman Sandy Hering met with the board to give a report and to discuss the committee’s desire to have a seat at the table when discussing the future of existing trees and new plantings associated with the village streets redevelopment project.
After Collyer read the Arbor Day Proclamation and announced that April 29 is the official tree-planting holiday, he also shared that Mattapoisett has been a Tree City for 14 years. Hering said that the mission of the committee is to increase the number of trees in the community, while also protecting the trees in place for future generations.
In the last few years while the committee has planted approximately three new trees each season, Hering said that as many as 25 trees in that same timeframe have been removed. “The street tree canopy is disappearing,” she warned. Bauer, a former Tree Committee member, said, “It’s important to preserve trees, especially along the water.”
Segueing to the village streets project, Hering said the plans for improvements to the roads throughout the village area including Main, Beacon and Water Streets and Marion Road currently call for the removal of 13 trees and that she has not seen a plan for replanting. She said the committee would be looking to plant trees in the town’s easement, which may include the use of structural soils, a newer material that aids trees planted along roadways.
Hering asked if the committee should start looking for sites for new plantings. Collyer said they have until the first week of June and that once contract negotiations with the engineering group VHB are completed, work will begin on the 75-percent design completion, a point at which the planting plan would be essential.
The possible need for a professional arborist was noted by Hering. Collyer said that since the roadway construction project would be funded by the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), it would have to be determined who would be responsible for hiring an arborist.
Hering said that on April 29, the committee would be planting four trees in front of the Police Department. She told the board, “Future generations will be grateful for our actions.”
Collyer said that the village streets project, which will include upgrades to all utilities including water and drainage systems, is slated for 2026 grant distribution at a cost of approximately $28,000,000 of which the town’s portion is approximately 20 percent.
The board also reviewed the draft warrant containing 28 articles. Lorenco said that the article possibly inspiring the most comments and questions will be Article 23, Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Filter Replacement. The article would approve $7,200,000 in indebtedness for the purpose of financing the construction of water treatment facility upgrades. Mattapoisett’s portion will be 20 percent, Lorenco said.
The FY23 budget was also touched on and now stands at $30,766,000. Total receipts are $31,500,000 of which 80 percent comes from property taxes. He said that the tax rate will decrease by 7 cents to $12.33 and that approximately $2,000,000 is currently sitting in the stabilization fund. The warrant may be posted as soon as Tuesday, April 26.
In other matters, Lorenco said that Richard Vacca has declined the position as conservation agent and town planner. He said that position, along with administration staffing and assistant to the town accountant, would be posted.
Collyer took a moment to remember former herring inspector Robert Martin, who passed away in recent weeks. “On behalf of the town, we extend our condolences to the family. He always had the best interest of the community in mind and did his job well,” said Collyer.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Select Board was not scheduled upon adjournment.
Mattapoisett Select Board
By Marilou Newell