SCHOOL BUDGET: Addresses Past Financial Deficiencies; Threatens Academic Programs for Elementary, Secondary Students [with video]
The Groton-Dunstable Regional School Committee voted March 5 to propose a $39.86 million budget for fiscal 2015 (July 2014 to June 2015) which is down slightly from this year's total budget. While the total budget is down, assessments to member towns Groton and Dunstable are projected to increase significantly which will impact the tax bills of residents in both towns.
Groton's assessment to the school district in 2015 is expected to be $17.7 million which is nearly a nine percent increase from this year's assessment. The District's assessments to Groton and Dunstable show up in each town's operating budget for fiscal 2015. Dunstable's assessment is expected to be $5.1 million which is nearly an 11 percent increase over this year's assessment.
The relatively large increases in assessments to Groton and Dunstable are attributed to the loss of some revenue sources available to the District and to cover the operating expenses of the school district for the 2014 - 2015 school year.
The academic program at the district schools for the 2014 - 2015 school year can be described as a slightly diminished at both the elementary and secondary level. This seemingly contradictory position of lower educational service and increased assessments within the school district results from several years of poor fiscal management and the questionable use of funds from the district's Excess and Deficiency Fund.
According to a recent audit conducted of the School District's financial situation, the District has nearly depleted its Excess and Deficiency Fund, already spent one-time savings in their health insurance costs and used all federal ARRA grants in order to cover deficits in the Special Education budget.
To make up for those spent funds, revenue from assessments to member towns will be increased in fiscal 2015, staffing at both the elementary and secondary levels will be reduced, some programs and staffing assistants will be eliminated, lunch prices will be increased as will athletic user fees.
In essence, taxpayers will be paying more for education services in town while receiving a diminished academic program for most children. Interestingly, of the $1.2 million in reductions and scaled back services recommended for fiscal 2015, Special Education is barely mentioned in cost reductions. A half-time Special Education teacher at the Swallow Union School will be eliminated at a savings of $25,000.
A total of eight teachers will be eliminated for fiscal 2015 with the bulk of them occurring at the elementary level. Two fourth grade teachers, two fifth grade teachers, one middle school teacher, one high school science teacher, one high school art teacher, a one-third high school drama teacher, a one-third high school English teacher and the half-time special education teacher will be eliminated in the next school year. These staffing reductions will reduce one-on-one aid for struggling readers at the elementary schools, Elementary Foreign Language will be eliminated, School based Curriculum Leaders will be eliminated and Elementary Physical Education will be reduced from twice a week to once a week.
In addition, the School Committee voted to make reductions in transportation costs of $150,000, reduce custodial expenses of $150,000 and postpone replenishment of the District's Excess and Deficiency Fund in the amount of $250,000.
The reductions and scaled back services proposed for fiscal 2015 are in addition to reductions already made by the School Committee this year (fiscal 2014). Those reductions total $250,000 and include cutbacks in secretarial staff, custodian staff, one teacher and an IT Assistant Network Manager.
In a report on the proposed fiscal 2015 budget, School District Business Manager Jared Stanton noted, "During recent difficult economic years the School Committee, in recognition of municipal stresses, approached the district needs from a maintenance perspective. Reductions have been made on an annual basis that have now compounded and are impacting education in our district. These impacts are most strongly felt at the elementary levels and will likely continue to be seen as these students move through the middle and high schools."
The School District's proposed budget for fiscal 2015 will be presented to Groton voters at Annual Town Meeting on April 28 and to Dunstable voters at their Annual Town Meeting on May 12. The proposed school budgets are part of each town's operating budgets and are voted as part of the town budgets.
