School Committee Passes Budget

$43,185,000 Allocated for 2011-2012 School Year

– Allison Goldsberry

After spending three nights hashing out the final details of the proposed budget for fiscal year 2011, the Medford School Committee unanimously approved a $43,185,000 budget.

Initially, the proposed budget was $43,010,000, not one cent more than the fiscal year 2010 budget, and several painful cuts were before the School Committee. Twenty-nine positions were eliminated, with the net number of layoffs exclusive of retirements, leaves of absence, resignations and performance at twenty-two, according to School Superintendent Roy Belson. The district faced a reduction of sixteen secretaries, two guidance counselors, one high school submaster, and a $50,000 cut in athletics, among other unpalatable choices.

Mayor Michael McGlynn announced during Wednesday night’s budget hearing that $175,000 in money from cash reserves and various city accounts has become available to support the school budget. The money provides a guidance counselor and submaster coverage at Medford High School, restores Advanced Placement foreign language classes at MHS, adds an elementary school teacher, and ensures assistant principal coverage at the elementary level.

“The good news is there’s a core budget here that still delivers a quality education to our students,” said Mayor McGlynn.

Mayor McGlynn also eliminated the proposed $50,000 cut in sports by donating money he raised from several golf tournaments he organized to support the school athletic program. However, recognizing the money from the tournaments is a one time donation, the Committee approved an increase in athletic user fees to prevent a budget gap from occurring the following school year.

User fees will increase by $25 for every sport except hockey and football, which will see an increase of $50. The maximum family cap has also been raised $50 to $500.

In addition to the $175,000 that bolstered the budget, Mayor McGlynn also secured a $15,000 donation from Clear Channel that will reduce a proposed $25,000 cut in the high school student activities account. The account, which provides stipends for high school activity advisors, had been cut from from $45,000 to $25,000.

While recognizing that the budget still required some forces choices and tough cuts, and is not 100% ideal, some Committee members were happy the Mayor and School Superintendent listened to their concerns as well as those of parents and students. School Committee Vice Chair Paulette Van der Kloot said she was “appreciative” of Mayor McGlynn’s efforts to identify additional funding that restored some particularly painful cuts.

“We’re in this together. We’re trying to do the best we can for the young people and their families,” said Superintendent Belson.

The school budget will go before the Medford City Council for approval on Tuesday, June 29 at 7:00PM.

More…
– Superintendent Belson’s Budget Message
– Fiscal Year 2011 School Budget
– FY2011 Budget Pie Chart