Superintendent Highlights Favorable Finances

At a time when many budgets are being squeezed, Superintendent Stephen Mills reported “very good news” about the budget for Acton public and regional schools to the Interschool Council, a body of representatives from each of the seven parent teacher organizations.

Not only did Mills reach his goal of level service funding for the upcoming school year, but the schools were able to reduce the budget by $970,000 from fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2011. The district also has federal stimulus and education jobs money available.

Because of the school districts’ strong financial position, Mills has created an Purchasing Initiative to buy one time items such as technology equipment and text books using $880,000 over a three year period. The Superintendent also intends to return $600,000 to Free Cash.

On April 28, the Superintendent credited the favorable finances to a team effort, citing good forecasting by town officials, federal stimulus money for the school district, and cooperation of both labor unions and town committees.

Mills explained that level service funding is different from level funding, which would certainly have included layoffs and reductions in services. The town of Acton committed $2 million in reserves to maintain the current level of service for the 2011-2012 school year. Mills was also able to spend an additional $108,000 for classroom assistants in the Acton Public Schools.

The $970,000 school budget reduction was created through various means including a reduction in the cost of utilities, retirements within the school system and an agreement by all employees to pay a larger percentage of their healthcare costs.

Utility costs for the schools were significantly lowered as natural gas prices hit a seven-year low. The schools were able to lock in those prices for the next three years. Mills also mentioned savings from the retirement of clerical positions at the high school.

The school district successfully negotiated labor contracts with three unions, including the teachers association.

“They were great,” said Mills in regards to the unions. “They were really mindful of the recession and that a lot of people were out of work.”

Mills commended the unions for agreeing to increase the fifteen percent employee contribution toward health insurance up to a twenty-five percent employee contribution. Teachers will effectively see up to a two and a half percent pay increase, but accepted a zero increase for cost of living.

Mills earmarked $550,000 of the Purchasing Initiative for Acton Public Schools, giving each of the five elementary schools $110,000 to spend on textbooks and technology such as smart boards and iPads. The regional schools will receive $330,000 for nonrecurring items.

 “The text book situation is deplorable,” said Mills.

Without an elementary school background, Mills said that he would defer to the school principals to make the argument for items most needed at each school. The parent representatives brought up concerns about purchasing technology equipment, especially for the younger grades.

 “I find it hard to believe that kindergarten and first grade need smart boards,” said one member. “There are far more pressing needs in the district.”

Nancy Sherburne, from the Acton Boxborough Special Education Parent Advisory Council wanted the money to be invested as wisely as possible.

“We haven’t been able to invest in our schools in a long time,” said Sherburne.

Mills told the Interschool Council that there is still federal stimulus money available to the district, as well as federal money for education jobs. The educational jobs funds must be spent by the first quarter of 2013, which Mills said would be “easy to do.”

After receiving $2 million from the town for a level service budget, Superintendent Mills intends to return $400,000 to the Acton Public Schools Free Cash and $200,000 to the Acton Boxborough Regional E&D to replenish the reserves.

“I feel an obligation on our side to do what we can,” said Mills.

He asked for the Interschool Council’s support for the budget initiatives at the upcoming school committee meetings on May 5 and 19.