Thursday, May 9, 2019

Charter School expansion isn't a driving cause of the FPS school budget deficit

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Since the expansion of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School was first discussed six years ago, Executive Director Heather Zolnowski said its impact has remained transparent with the town. 
And while she believes it’s a factor in the town budget, she says it’s not to blame for the town’s looming structural deficit entering fiscal year 2020. 
“We’ve been talking about this for six years – they knew it was coming,” said Zolnowski in response to comments from Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen that the school’s expansion costs have left a dent in the fiscal 2020 budget. Hellen is forecasting a structural deficit, possibly extending to fiscal 2022 due to a lack of sufficient state funding for the charter school. 
According to Hellen, more than $5 million in town funding is being diverted to the school in fiscal 2020 - $1.1 million more than this year."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190508/franklin-charter-school-head-weve-worked-with-town

Horace Mann statue in downtown Franklin, the father of public education
Horace Mann statue in downtown Franklin, the father of public education

Related post:

Per the legislative update at the Town Council meeting, Wednesday, May 8 the DESE forecast of Charter School funding has caught up to the actual numbers for the projected enrollment at the Charter School. We should see these changes in the budget package being prepared for the Town Council budget hearings scheduled for May 22 and May 23. The Franklin Public Schools still face a deficit and have had to make some hard decisions.

My notes recorded live during the Town Council meeting on May 8

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