Wednesday, May 1, 2024

School Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)

The School Committee Budget Subcommittee met as scheduled on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 6:00 PM. The started late, left just before 7 PM and hence the full Committee meeting started a little late.

The agenda doc ->

Download the PDF  handout of fee increases ->

My notes captured during the meeting
  • Chair David McNeill opens meeting at 6:09 PM, business meeting public invited with watch listen, to participate at discretion of the chair
  • Recap of the 4/24 Joint Meeting by Supt Giguere. Coordinated with OCPF to get opinion on videos prepared, can host, can't send directly
  • Once the TA FY 2025 budget was released, they could work toward how to cover the shortfall ($6.3m) if the override is not approved by the Town Council, or if approved but does not pass the community vote. Some fee increases, anticipating approx 30 FTE...
  • Reduction of supplies within buildings across the board, stipends, mentor, etc. $4.7m reductions after the fee increases. 30 FTE is a significant reduction, negative impact to quality of education, class size, offerings, extra curricular activities, etc.
  • The model was put forward, if any variation, that would require an adjustment somewhere else in the budget
  • No decisions have been made on positions or roles specifically, they will continue to look at the numbers as the scenario develops/evolves (i.e. override yes and what the # might be)
  • Potential use of retirement to help balance but that position is removed ... A loss to the district if the position is not filled
  • Fee increases proposed were designed to self fund the program, not to generate additional revenue to be used overall (can't be done anyway). The natural area to look at is class size, then to the required programs looking at electives and AP classes, can't charge for an ...AP course, can only charge for the AP exam.
  • Even with fee increases to meet the purpose, as astronomical as they appear, they don't help alleviate the other cuts. Largest expense for the district is staff, period. So reducing expenses means reducing staff
  • Athletics first, total cost for each sport, then worked to get to a cost per student, divided into tier, largest cost tier 1
  • All programs for athletics is about $1m; approx $400k from fees currently, $600k balance previously covered by budget ...
  • Tier 1 fees approx $1k, tier 2 at about $600, tier 3 at about $350 Does include post season costs assuming teams were successful enough to gain that.
  • Attrition could be seen at the JV and subJV levels affecting the varsity level at some point with talent feed/development
  • Transportation currently at $600 could go to $1100/per to self funding this program. Even with an override, transportation fees may rise anyway to keep pace with cost
  • 20% increase for ECDC anticipated, IEP students do not pay, building use rental increase of 5% projected tier level of support required
  • Possible parking fee, $125/vehicle to manage overall parking process
  • Model can be posted, didn't want to get ahead of the guidance of the subcmte
  • Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0

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School Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)
School Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)

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