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Regional committee approves FY19 spending plan and drops special-ed stabilization article
Summary
The Regional School Committee approved a $38,273,474 FY2019 spending plan, accepted a 2.2% budget increase, and voted to remove a previously proposed special-education stabilization article from the warrant.
The Regional School Committee approved a total FY2019 spending plan of $38,273,474 and directed administrators to publish updated budget numbers online. Committee members and the regional finance committee (FinCom) had reviewed and adjusted assessment calculations before the vote.
Steve (regional FinCom) reported a unanimous FinCom recommendation to approve the revised assessment sheet. A motion to approve the $38,273,474 total spending figure was made and seconded; the motion carried after a voice vote with one member abstaining.
Separately, the committee voted to withdraw the previously proposed Special Education Stabilization Fund article from the warrant. The motion to remove the stabilization-fund article passed after discussion; several members said the FY19 budget they approved begins to address the committee’s E&D (excess and deficiency) concerns but that special-education funding remains an ongoing issue to examine.
Administrators and committee members agreed to follow up on multiple budget questions submitted by members and to provide responses from central office staff and school principals. The committee asked administration to publish the updated budget format, including spending and the assessment sheet, on the district website and to provide clear breakdowns of grant-funded lines (IDEA, Title I, Title II, Title IV and other federal grants) that are not included in the base appropriations figure.
Committee members were reminded that the approved school budget represents a 2.2% increase from the prior year and that, aside from the budget article itself, only a maintenance-vehicle article will appear separately on the warrant at this time.
