[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6221225,"mediaKeyId","3614668-316277e0e72decd41a16100ee07c43e4","parentId",3614668,"title","Wareham committee approves budget transfers, reviews revolving funds and circuit‑breaker balance","audioSeconds",2065,"startMs",3109000,"endMs",5174000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614668-316277e0e72decd41a16100ee07c43e4&start=3109&end=5174","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614668-316277e0e72decd41a16100ee07c43e4/thumbnail_3109000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221225/Massachusetts/Wareham-committee-approves-budget-transfers-reviews-revolving-funds-and-circuitbreaker-balance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221225-6a0df8264877d6659c1ea692ef062218/orig.mp4?Expires=1770504723&Signature=Br0IePeT~roE9QHZdMusjshuE8Yqbb9wRjsRKmZGBTg7ut6OIxTbQqm2tU5GVEmgfyrX~HPvvYLhK0S7hk90lLo9o09iPqB3AdFkYTJc~lkOBfOrAB5lMcrayjD~WzGDsEjesTsFaGKohgbltM~WhLuwjaihmRc5mRv9-hxC7T5DhaqXi722SwdjLfw0vUKCRZjVedECHxTJniNroHN0Y4lMj2tgo53Ye9LcN1vlew1eBIjR6h22lpjJhQIurlAlxxpqQWMjECrpuuAaWXooHVRbAF6HaBQzXOxp9BR6cak0jZFYMUYUyfuryUSBCyn1UCzpCJlxbv1I6Kpd59xpTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wareham Public Schools, MA","date","2025-05-30T16:58:54Z","article","At the May 29 meeting the Wareham School Committee approved budget transfers and considered the district's revolving‑fund balances, circuit‑breaker funds and other year‑end financial items.

Kristen (business office) presented the April financial report and a requested set of budget transfers intended to cover anticipated end‑of‑year expenses. \"We're 76% spent,\" Kristen said while describing close monitoring of salary lines, substitutes, special‑education contract services and unpredictable transportation costs. She told the committee staff were projecting salaries and encumbrances and making transfers to prevent any line‑item deficits.

Nut graf: The committee voted to approve the requested transfers and several routine warrants; staff emphasized that transportation and special‑education tuitions remain unpredictable and that circuit‑breaker reimbursements and revolving funds are being used to smooth timing gaps.

Key financial items presented and discussed:
- Budget transfers: The committee moved and seconded the budget transfer package and recorded the vote as 5–0–0 in favor. The transfers primarily shifted funds into private and collaborative tuitions (including prepaying allowable amounts for next year), special‑education transportation, and a limited number of salary cleanups.
- Warrants and MOA: The committee approved bill and payroll warrants and unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement with cafeteria workers covering 2025–2028.
- Circuit breaker: The business office reported a circuit‑breaker carryover of about $1.3 million from the prior year. The district reported actual circuit‑breaker revenue to date of roughly $1,633,950 and anticipated charging approximately $1,293,000 to circuit breaker for the current year, including special‑education tuitions and three positions charged to the program (a job coach, a BCBA and a social worker). Staff noted recent increases in transportation costs are included in circuit‑breaker claims and that reimbursements are dispersed quarterly by DESE.
- Revolving funds: Kristen summarized the district's revolving accounts (transportation, athletics, ROTC, school choice, preschool, etc.). She said she had filed for McKinney‑Vento reimbursement for FY24 in the amount of $203,000 and that the town appropriation of $79,000 for transportation had not yet been included in the April report; she also noted that interest earned on most revolving funds is retained by the town treasury rather than the school department.

Committee members discussed whether town policy requiring no line item deficits is an appropriate constraint; Kristen said the rule had led to closer, more frequent monitoring. Member Kevin and others indicated interest in exploring how some revolving balances might be applied to close the district deficit. Questions also touched on school choice revenue trends, driver shortages increasing contracted transportation costs and the role of the circuit breaker in offsetting special‑education expenses.

Actions taken: The meeting record shows unanimous votes to approve the bill/payroll warrants, the cafeteria MOA (2025–2028), and the proposed budget transfers (all recorded as 5–0–0). No committee member voiced opposition on those items during the recorded votes.

Ending: Staff said they will continue weekly monitoring of encumbrances and report back as year‑end numbers finalize; committee members asked for follow‑up details on revolving balances and the effects of lower school‑choice revenue.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wareham School Committee 5-29-25","oneSentenceSummary","The School Committee approved budget transfers and received a financial briefing showing 76% year‑to‑date spending, a circuit‑breaker carryover of roughly $1.3 million, and ongoing monitoring of transportation and special‑education tuition costs. The committee also approved a cafeteria workers' memorandum of agreement.","taxTitle","Wareham Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",69254,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6221230,"Wareham outlines summer programs: ESY at elementary and high school sites; Boost, preschool and care offerings",426,1788000,2214000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614668-316277e0e72decd41a16100ee07c43e4&start=1788&end=2214","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614668-316277e0e72decd41a16100ee07c43e4/thumbnail_1788000.jpg","/articles/6221230/Massachusetts/Wareham-outlines-summer-programs-ESY-at-elementary-and-high-school-sites-Boost-preschool-and-care-offerings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221230-5bfaf497f21ddabf6593d0607cafdca2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770504723&Signature=OjlLYmnA3Pu2o095CmyGHqc8PTsEz0GDXcgT5cY1MDBacjRtlyKw7Nan3j8AvBQqfvxz5d-9oyhmLwqUUlXVh7HyYADuLNDmEv0ak9hbPJqoEzuk5iw7feChMfYWatZuk9nDvpDJpy6rfUwdx2x6Mnbrq9hCEJNPDRbWy29p5AUJVFQQUehRXmlcShL7kdgQtS2O7Lg7s6NpFt6-lOYwsz6RE0UdzhNKGWaZHXVxBENqbxdhZQ8rK9hrdgpRK~WHCDRrPloFu8c7rbxQyejFHRCai95jfazTyTxz9XvhkpGkZ5v0RcIFus0YqjsCO4hmLBWxQjAp3aBV2aZMg-7Acw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the May 29 meeting, district staff presented the 2025 summer program plan, describing two Extended School Year (ESY) sites for students with significant needs, a restructured Boost intervention for K–4 students, a preschool pilot funded by a CPPI grant and full‑day care options that will account for interlocking registrations.

The special‑education ESY will run July 7–Aug. 7 at two locations: Wareham Elementary School serving pre‑K through grade 7, and Wareham High School serving grades 8–12 (including students who remain eligible until age 22). The district said the ESY program will run Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m., with current enrollment at 83 students and an anticipated wave of late registrations. \"Our program runs Monday through Thursday from 08:30AM to 11:30AM,\" a special‑education staff member said, noting that the district currently has 10 teachers, about 20 paraprofessionals, a coordinator, two nurses (one half‑time in each building), a secretary and 12 related‑service providers assigned to ESY.

Nut graf: District leaders said concentrated, higher‑need placements are driving staffing needs and that ESY must staff at high ratios to meet IEP requirements and keep students safe. Administrators also described flexible scheduling so students in Boost or Accelerated Academy can remain in care programs to accommodate family needs and transportation.

Elementary summer care and Boost: At Wareham Elementary the care program (K–7) will operate July 7–Aug. 7, Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; the presenters reported 35 students enrolled so far. The Boost intervention for K–4 was restructured into morning and afternoon cohorts, with each cohort receiving 50 hours of the Boost curriculum. Capacity for Boost was described as up to 240 students (two cohorts per grade), and registration numbers announced during the meeting included roughly 20 kindergarten→1st grade, 39 first→second, 20 second→third and 14 third→fourth students in place at the time of the presentation.

Preschool and other notes: For the first time the district will operate a preschool summer program (3–5 year olds) July 7–Aug. 7 funded by a CPPI grant; the presenter reported 10 students enrolled. Presenters said enrollment is typically rolling and they expect upticks as summer approaches; the district also plans to target higher‑risk students for morning Boost slots and use the care program to keep families whole when transportation limits apply.

Administrators answered committee questions about staff ratios and changes in the student mix. A district presenter said caseloads and intensity have shifted toward smaller groups with higher needs: \"More intense. We have a lot of students that are transferring from the middle school to the high school this year... the level of support that's needed within just that one classroom is requiring six staff.\" Committee members asked whether additional funding would allow the program to serve more students; presenters said they serve students identified for ESY and would not turn students away but that concentrated intensive needs determine staffing.

Ending: Registration was ongoing; presenters said final counts often increase up to the program start. Committee members asked staff to continue outreach to families and to report updated enrollment figures as the start date approaches.","Administrators described the district's planned five‑week summer offerings for 2025, including Extended School Year services at two locations, a restructured Boost literacy/math program, preschool funded by a CPPI grant, and care/extended‑day options. Presenters cited staffing intensity and enrollment trends.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6221235,"Parents, paraprofessionals and teachers press Wareham School Committee for livable wages for paras",1486,236000,1722000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614668-316277e0e72decd41a16100ee07c43e4&start=236&end=1722","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614668-316277e0e72decd41a16100ee07c43e4/thumbnail_236000.jpg","/articles/6221235/Massachusetts/Parents-paraprofessionals-and-teachers-press-Wareham-School-Committee-for-livable-wages-for-paras","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221235-9813b18e1cf391b00eada64ad5a75d4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770504723&Signature=IjKLDrQNK2dKx8-aPo-n80slAnnaHyUEyPOcxElVBvEhaMrp3vEMeRnWFNRA1FHzhevmtkQb5274Cy4BzkFHy8HYsCanyiTiLLafHHsz1toe6ffnC2qDa~AnlnwBCnOMTT96Aq-XNm03CZV0lWoYN8K7SBTJgkFi1tJduaQP3AcNwOxmBnVbwthRjzbfYntHvBcvvwp-OH2tt9cN3E2nmXrMXPw0NtqYVjr4tHd7agGMjW9AMcVj0t5IXszDw-d1HY~aIorP1008EgMq4kUQJZQNnOJDLCncqH3Ts4q4HONeJx-bBNILMk7iUzZbXr1vg9qWsp5x7vZ4FnrGUwEXRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its May 29 regular meeting, the Wareham School Committee heard more than a dozen public comments urging higher pay for paraprofessionals, which speakers said is leading to turnover and risks to students who require one‑to‑one support.

The speakers emphasized that paraprofessionals provide essential safety, communication and instructional support for students with disabilities. \"What our paraprofessionals truly need and deserve is a livable wage, fair, competitive pay that reflects the essential skilled and emotionally demanding work that they do every day with our most vulnerable children,\" said Marilyn Morley, a paraprofessional at Wareham Elementary School, reading a parent's letter.

Nut graf: Parents, paraprofessionals and several teachers gave detailed, personal accounts at the committee's public‑comment period, saying that low pay undermines the district's ability to retain experienced classroom aides who keep students safe and make daily instruction possible. Speakers asked the committee to prioritize pay increases in upcoming negotiations and budget decisions; no formal committee action on paraprofessional pay was taken at the meeting.

Speakers gave repeated examples of the classroom and safety roles paras fill. Michelle Hohen, a substitute teacher who read a letter from a parent identified as Alicia, described a child who \"went on an adventure on the school grounds\" and was found only because a paraprofessional the child trusted located him. Maria Gallimo, a paraprofessional, recounted a family's experience getting an autism diagnosis and credited school staff for unlocking the child's learning.

Several speakers tied pay to retention and student outcomes. Taylor Smith, a parent and paraprofessional, said: \"We're not just, you know, people that could go work at McDonald's. We're here because we wanna be here, not because we have no other choice.\" Haley Garrity, a paraprofessional, described financial strain and asked, \"Could I live with or support a family with a salary of $25,000, give or take?\"

Teachers and other staff also urged the committee to negotiate in good faith. Michelle François, a first‑grade teacher, said she started in education 30 years ago and earned roughly the same pay that many current paraprofessionals now earn, and urged the committee to find a solution in negotiations.

Several parents read letters on behalf of others, including a note from Bridal Fahey, father of a student who praised the special‑education team for helping his child gain independence. Committee chair Jeff (first name used in meeting) invited speakers to email their letters to the committee and said the committee would accept submitted materials for review.

The meeting record shows no formal motion, vote or change to paraprofessional pay at the May 29 session. Committee members acknowledged the comments and asked for additional written materials; multiple speakers urged members to visit Wareham Elementary to see the classrooms and students described.

Ending: The committee did not vote on staff pay during the meeting. Speakers said they will provide written submissions to the committee and urged continued negotiation and attention in budget planning; committee members indicated they would accept emailed letters for follow up.","Dozens of parents, paraprofessionals and teachers told the Wareham School Committee on May 29 that low pay for paraprofessionals threatens student safety and continuity of services for students with significant needs. Speakers asked the committee to negotiate higher pay and to visit Wareham Elementary to see needs firsthand.","actionData","errors"]

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Wareham committee approves budget transfers, reviews revolving funds and circuit‑breaker balance

Wareham outlines summer programs: ESY at elementary and high school sites; Boost, preschool and care offerings

Parents, paraprofessionals and teachers press Wareham School Committee for livable wages for paras