The FY24 Marion School Budget Hearing took place on March 8 with full approval of the Marion School Committee.
Old Rochester Regional Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson introduced the public hearing and handed off the presentation to Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber.
Based on figures shared at Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting, the total proposed FY24 Marion Schools Budget is $12,648,709, including $4,569,544 (altogether $6,666,193) for Sippican School, $5,274,891 for Marion’s share of the Old Rochester Regional District operating budget, a $466,078 assessment for Upper Cape Tech’s operating budget and $189,999 for debt service (ORR.)
The net percentage increase over FY23 is 2.74%.
Barber explained his zero-based budgetary method in terms of recognition of necessary modifications, interviews with Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Shari Fedorowicz, Principal Marla Sirois and department heads.
Barber identified funding sources outside the operating budget such as Bristol County Agricultural School and other offsets such as federal Entitlement grants, a Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursement and Revolving Funds such as Project GROW (preschool) tuitions.
Because there are no Marion students attending Bristol Aggie, Barber said the FY24 cost of the relationship will be zero.
At the conclusion of Barber’s budget presentation, Nelson publicly thanked Marion Finance Committee Chairman Shea Assad for his work attending meetings and acting as liaison between ORR and the town.
The public hearing was closed, and the vote that followed was unanimously in favor of the FY24 budget as presented by Barber.
The committee heard a presentation from Darci Burns, the executive director of Hill for Literacy, Inc. The needs assessment focused on literacy across all the ORR District schools that began in the fall yielded information that Burns shared with the School Committee. Focus-group interviews and a ratings survey were held, along with classroom walk-throughs.
Burns recapped a report with 57 assessments indicating a need for consistent oral-language, spelling and writing assessment across all grade levels.
Sirois explained that staff will implement the recommendations of the assessment including Kindergarten.
The School Committee heard a presentation from Adam Davenport of the Marion Institute regarding the Grow Farm-to-School Program. Davenport explained that 19 gardens have been built in New Bedford elementary schools, beginning with third-grade teachers and expanding out from there.
The Marion Institute is committed to raise funds to support a two-year program at Sippican. The Marion School Committee was to write a letter of support to the town’s Community Preservation Committee.
The committee reviewed Open Meeting Law complaints filed in February by Kathleen Leclair of Mattapoisett, including an updated complaint addressed to the Marion School Committee. Nelson explained that actions were taken as outlined by the instructions in the complaint. Marion’s was the last of the Tri-Town school committees to vote to authorize to legal counsel as arranged by the superintendent.
In her Chairperson’s Report, April Nye publicly thanked fellow committee members, Nichole Daniel, Nichole Nye McGaffey, Mary Beauregard and Michelle Smith for their commitment to the committee’s work supporting Sippican and ORR District students, staff members, administration and the community.
“I want to recognize that we come from different backgrounds; we have taken very different career paths in our lives; we are of different age groups; and do I dare say it – are even from different political parties,” said Nye. “We have many differences, yet these differences have not divided us here at this table. It is my belief that these differences are actually what have balanced this committee and is what has made us a truly successful, functioning board.
“Our ability to communicate and work together for the good of all is what makes us well-rounded and I appreciate our differences. I appreciate that we are able to leave any baggage and personal agendas at the door and come to this table to get the job done that we were elected to do.”
The School Committee approved the School Health Unit application through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as submitted by School Nurse Meagan Morais.
The committee voted to approve a donation from MassCUE to faculty Jessica Barrett in the amount of $2,250. The committee approved the donation of the following books from Free Spirit Publishing: “I Love You All the Time,” “You Wonder All the Time,” You are Growing All the Time,” and “You have Feelings All the Time.”
The committee approved a $10,000 Safe and Supportive Schools Grant.
The committee approved revisions to the Student Handbook on student absences and excuses. As explained by Sirois, inclement weather as to endanger a child has been added to approved excuses. Efforts are also being made to check on absences of three or more days.
At the start of the meeting, Marion Town Administrator Geoff Gorman introduced himself to the committee. Nelson publicly thanked Gorman for reaching out and meeting with Nelson upon his hire.
The next meeting of the Marion School Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, at 6:30 pm.
Marion School Committee
By Mick Colageo