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School committee approves three intra-budget transfers for textbooks, equipment and copy supplies
Summary
The committee approved three budget transfers requested by building administrators, shifting textbook funds (partly covered this year by ARPA/ESSER grants) to instructional supplies and equipment and moving funds to cover copy paper at Richardson Olmstead.
The Easton School Committee on Thursday approved three budget transfers requested by building administrators that reallocate funds across DESE cost-center lines.
Director Starzewski (presenting) told the committee that the transfers are the first submitted under the district’s new policy requiring school committee review when funds move between different Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) cost-center codes. The transfers included:
- Blanche Ames Elementary: $25,000 moved from the textbooks line to the instructional supply line to purchase curriculum materials for a new preschool curriculum. Starzewski said recent textbook purchases were charged to ARPA funding this year, producing a temporary textbook-line balance in the operating budget that can be reallocated.
- Blanche Ames Elementary: $1,000 moved from the textbooks line to an equipment line to replace walkie-talkie batteries. Committee members asked about the quantity and whether the batteries are specialized; Starzewski said the requested amount covers current replacement and anticipated needs for the next few months and that walkie-talkies are widely used for recess and bus duty at elementary schools.
- Richardson Olmstead School: $5,000 moved from the textbooks line to copying supplies to ensure adequate copy paper for the remainder of the school year.
Starzewski described the procedural controls for transfers: departments run reports from the general ledger, attach backup detail, circulate requests for signature via DocuSign, and the central office reviews expenditures and pending obligations before submission.
After brief questions about the walkie-talkie batteries and the transfer format, the committee voted 4–0 to approve the three transfers. DeLuca moved the motion; Wiseman seconded. Roll call: DeLuca, Wiseman, Star and Loomis all voted "yes." The transfers were posted as routine budget adjustments and do not increase total district appropriation; Starzewski emphasized that ARPA is a one-time funding source and operating budget lines will need replenishment in future fiscal years.
Ending: The committee approved the transfers to allow program needs and equipment replacements to proceed during the current fiscal year; administrators will return if additional transfers are required.
