FY27 Recommendation The Superintendent initially proposed a 6.7% increase to sustain Level Service and meet essential program needs. This proposal balanced fiscal responsibility with the need to preserve educational quality and required student services. Final School Committee Approved Budget of $ 314,575,126 (5.75%) After numerous meetings with the mayor and the executive team, the School Committee, the school Central Staff team, and many public meetings, the School Committee directed me to put forth a budget to balance with the mayor’s allocation while also keeping one of the key pillars of the Thrive vision- namely 8.0 Middle School Math Specialists. This entailed a series of further reductions and risks assumptions that are detailed below, that are part of the many trade-offs in this challenging budget year. Below please find the cost drivers that made reductions necessary despite a healthy allocation from the city. To add new math programming and support on top of that necessitated even more reductions to current programs as resources. Conclusion: The Resolution and Achievement of FY27 Budget Season Our mayor offered the district a 5.75% increase over last year’s budget and the school committee directed me to work within that number AND to provide one step toward our THRIVE 2030 strategic plan goals relating to our academic program. The School Committee’s approved 5.75% increase represents less than the required amount to preserve Newton’s current programs and services and move forward the implementation of expected new programs long desired by the district. This budget forced cuts, staffing reductions in the magnitude of $3.8M including: cuts in the following areas: • Diversity, equity and inclusion coordination, • Sustainability and long-range planning coordination, • Mental and behavioral health and services coordination and consultation, • Business office, ELL curriculum coordination and HR office staffing • Custodial and administrative assistant units. The adoption of the mayor’s allocation also meant that in order to balance the budget, the district must: • use additional revolving account revenues, one time city funding and • assume increased risk related to actual cost vs. projected cost. While I understand the fiscal finality of this allocation offer and why the school committee had to adopt it, I do not recommend it as the budget required to serve our
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