School budget is out of the red
Published on January 27th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Connelly had the pleasure of delivering good news to the School Committee, on Thursday night, regarding the current fiscal year's budget.
In his regular financial update to the School Committee, Connelly reported that forecasted year-end numbers appear healthier than previously reported.
"We believe we will not have a deficit at the end of the school year," he said, in contrast to the position forecasted last September.
"The further you get in the school year, the more accurate (the numbers)," Connelly said of the most recent review of the year's actual and forecasted numbers.
The favorable position is due, in part, to a spending freeze implemented last October on all discretionary spending. With a detailed look at all line items in this year's budget, yielding a year-end figure in the black, Connelly also reported that the school administration has recently been advised that the spending freeze has now been lifted.
"It's wonderful to hear good news," stated School Committee Chairman Stephen Gucciardi.
The first draft of the fiscal year 2000 budget was also discussed on Thursday with Connelly crediting the hard work of the administration in bringing the numbers together.
Draft one, he explained, at 3.9 percent above the current fiscal year budget, will allow the Stoneham school system to maintain the current level of services that it now enjoys.
Over the next couple of weeks, the School Committee will be asked to review the draft and consider additional expenditures aimed at expanding programs and increasing personnel.
Careful consideration must be made regarding the additions, he said, so that, as the next school year approaches, the needs generated by MCAS and from the accreditation process at the High School can be met.
"We take the position, if we cannot defend it, we won't put it in (the budget)," stated Connelly.
In his review of past years' budgets, Connelly stated that he was surprised by the percentage increases that the Stoneham school system has operated under, about 5.5 percent on average for the past three years.
"I anticipated them to be higher. For the School Committee to be able to hold the budget to a 5% increase, I consider a job well done."
With regard to the imminent requests for additional personnel and the understanding that acceptance of all such requests is likely not possible, Connelly said the list will be prioritized prior to School Committee review. On the other hand, the requests for additional programs, he cautioned, would not be prioritized since all are considered important.
"3.9 percent is a joke," stated Gucciardi. "Reading is asking for 10 percent."
Gucciardi also credited Connelly's leadership, especially in the budget process. He stated that it is important for the doors to open in September without a spending freeze in place so that teachers can have access to the funds they need.
"Educators want to spend the dollars to create the vision they want to create," he said.
Upcoming meetings of the committee will focus on the budget in preparation for presenting to the Finance Board and Board of Selectmen.
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