School Committee Unanimously Passes Budget

– Allison Goldsberry

On Monday night, before a Council Chamber packed with parents, students, teachers, school staff, and community members, the Medford School Committee unanimously approved a $44,900,000 budget for the upcoming school year.

The budget is $1,700,000 more than the current year’s budget. However, according to School Superintendent Roy Belson, the figure isn’t really an increase since $2.5 million was needed to create a budget with the same level of services, since fixed costs such as negotiated salary increases and other costs rise each year.

Supt. Belson praised Mayor Michael McGlynn for directing more money to the schools and for helping the community determine its shared priorities.

“He certainly has gone the extra mile for the schools this year, albeit it’s not everything I want,” said Supt. Belson.

School Committee member Paulette Van der Kloot agreed the budget doesn’t contain everything that everyone wants, such as an additional guidance counselor at Medford High and more funding for kindergarten aides.

“Does this budget cover all we wished for? NO, not by any means. However, given the limited resources, I think we have maximized the money put on the table and will work to meet the needs of all of our students,” wrote Van der Kloot in an email.

According to Mayor McGlynn, the school budget is up 3.9%, while the municipal budget is down 1%. The budget was done against the backdrop of a $1,224,000 deficit for fiscal year 2011, which ends June 30. The bulk of the deficit is $849,000 in snow and ice removal costs and around $200,000 in lawsuit settlements. McGlynn said the budget is contingent upon anticipated health care savings and a home rule petition that would allow the city to use a $1.2 million surplus in its water and sewer account. Both provisions are currently in the hands of the state legislature.

In addition, the city received $1 million less in local aid and according to Supt. Belson, is receiving less local aid now than it did in 2003. Also complicating the budget planning was an unusually small number of retirements (nine this year versus twenty-two last year) that won’t offset costs as much as in previous years, according to Belson.

Belson and McGlynn explained all of these factors to the audience as well as to the School Committee, and by the end of the night questions were answered, parents’ concerns were aired, and a budget came together that contained some last-minute restorations.

Mayor McGlynn has agreed to identify an additional $124,000 outside of the budget. Part of that money- $50,000- will be used for the athletic department to help fund a budget gap. The bulk- $74,000- is being used along with $100,000 that resulted from negotiations with the custodial union to restore projected budget cuts. The restorations include the support services specialist position at Medford High School; kindergarten aides; library aides; 0.6 (part-time) school nurse; $5,000 for maintaining equipment at the Vocational School; and $10,000 to partially restore a $20,000 cut to the student activities fund.

An increase in enrollment made it necessary for a fifth first grade teacher at the Brooks Elementary School, an additional sixth grade teacher at the Andrews Middle School, and three special education teachers.

“Enrollment is up. That means more students to serve,” said Supt. Belson.

Supt. Belson said despite a weak economy and the cumulative effect of years of cuts, class size has remained decent, a comprehensive curriculum is in place, and substantial programs and services continue to be offered, including busing at no cost.

Despite tough economic times and much anxiety over the budget, Mayor McGlynn said this was one of the smoothest budget processes in the past five years. The Mayor praised Supt. Belson, Budget and Finance Director Ann Giombetti, the School Committee, the City Council, and City Budget Director Stephanie Muccini Burke for their role in preparing the FY2012 budget.

“They did a great job in a very difficult year,” said Mayor McGlynn.

The Mayor and Superintendent also praised parents and other members of the school community for the great turnout at Monday’s school budget meeting.

“It shows they are very much involved in our school system,” said Mayor McGlynn.

Monday’s School Committee budget hearing will be replayed on Channel 15 in two parts on Wednesday, June 22 starting at 7:00pm and again on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at 11:00am.