School Committee Considers Additional Positions in Fiscal Year 2013

For the first time in several years, the Milton Public Schools are hoping that state and local revenue will provide a budget close to level service for the upcoming fiscal year. The additional resources may also afford the system a chance to seek improvements.

At their meeting on Wednesday, December 14, the School Committee discussed presenting the Warrant Committee with a budget that would include new positions or programs.

The district has already presented a $35.7 million level-service budget and detailed the salary and non-salary reductions necessary for a $34 million level-funding budget.

School Committee Chair Glenn Pavlicek said that that system has been “struggling to survive” over the past few years, but pointed out that the committee is obligated to move the system forward.

“You have to make the statement that this is what we want,” Pavlicek said.

Pavlicek said the past practice had been to submit three draft budgets to the Warrant Committee: one with level funding, another that would maintain the same service as the previous fiscal year, and a final draft with new investments.

“It’s three very different levels,” said Pavlicek on Wednesday.

Finance Sub-Committee and School Committee member Mary Kelly explained that in previous years the committee would consult principals and administrators about the additional needs of schools and departments.

Last year, Kelly said, the funds were so tight that those discussions did not take place.

The Finance Sub-Committee and the administration recently created a list of four to six positions that, if added, would better serve the district.

After the final Finance Sub-Committee meeting of the year, on Monday, December 19, the list will be forwarded, along with the public schools FY13 draft budget, to the Warrant Committee. 

Superintendent Mary Gormley said the budget process always begins with non-negotiable items, and progresses from there. The addition of new programs or staff, like last year’s increase in elementary art time, always comes at a cost, such as the elimination of an elementary librarian.

On Wednesday, the School Committee agreed to forward the list of potential staff increases to the Warrant Committee before the holiday break to provide insight into their thought process along with the draft budget. 

The School Committee will review the list and vote on it at their next meeting, January 4, 2012.