Deficit Projected in 2012 Brookline School Budget

There may be a deficit, and it’s a bit on the heavy side.

That was the news learned during the School Committee meeting Thursday as the second quarter report for the fiscal year 2012 was released showing a projected budget deficit of about $150,000.

The strains on the school system continue to be the growth of spending in special education programs and the , which has caused pressures on staffing. For example, there are currently 602 kindergarten students compared with 546 the previous year.  

School Committee member Elizabeth Childs noted that given the circumstances, the numbers could have been worse.

“I think overall it’s pretty good news given the pressures we are dealing with,” said Childs, who is also a member of the Finance Subcommittee. “Management is going to be critical to keep spending within budget.”

The one upside to the projection is the fact it does not take into account the “Circuit Breaker” funds. Originally budgeted at $1.68 million, the school system looks to be in line for $1.94 million, but must wait for the results of an audit before being awarded the money.

In other Committee news:

Jennifer Flewelling was introduced as the new principal of the . She has been the principal at the North Beverly Elementary School in Beverly for the past five years. Before that, she was the assistant principal at the Riddlebrook Elementary School in Bedford, New Hampshire. Flewelling starts her new role on July 1.

“I’m very, very excited to join the Brookline leadership team and the Brookline schools, especially Devotion,” she said.