Silver Lake Regional School Committee met Tuesday, April 9, at the regional high school in Kingston.
High on the list of items discussed was the budget, and making it work, despite current challenges. Paula Hatch, chairman, explained that Silver Lake isn’t the only school district in the state faced with these extraordinary challenges; it is happening throughout the state. Hatch referenced an article in the Boston Globe that detailed new accounting requirements.
Began with a School Choice hearing. Superintendent Dr. Jill Proulx explained that school choice would allow students from other school districts to pay tuition to attend Silver Lake schools. Silver Lake has opted not to participate in school choice at this time. Committee member Jason Fraser made a motion to opt out of school choice and gave current classroom sizes and budgetary concerns as reasons for doing so. The motion was seconded and the vote unanimous to decline participation in school choice.
Carl Pike, a longtime member of the Kingston Finance Committee, addressed the assembly saying despite his being a prime supporter of the schools, the current education increase that Kingston is looking at is $2.9 million, or a 10.3% increase over last year. That’s on top of a 7% increase and 1.9 million for last year. “Well, any of you that know anything about finances, budgets, Proposition 2 ½, you cannot live with 7% and 10% increases every year… Despite that, we’re continuing to work to find some way of justifying it.” Pike went on to say that he took an informal vote at the last finance committee meeting and said that he feared his committee will not be able to recommend this kind of increase in the budget.
Pike closed his comments with an invitation to all present to attend the next Finance Committee meeting on April 17 to comment on whatever they think is right. “Rest assured, that the town administration in Kingston, the Board of Selectmen in Kingston, the Finance Committee in Kingston, intends to continue to support the schools, the education, the administrators, the teachers, that everybody that we can within reasonable budget limitations to provide the best education that we can for the residents and their children of the Town of Kingston.”
Superintendent Jill Proulx introduced Silver Lake District Business Director Sarah Hickey who reported to the Silver Lake Regional School Committee on Budget Version VI, incorporating many of the proposed reductions discussed at prior meetings to bring the budget into line with funds available.
Budget Version VI, showed a total Silver Lake Budget of $40,624,059, with a reduction of $855,000 as voted by the Silver Lake school committee at their March 22 meeting. As a result of that vote to reduce the budget, Hickey updated the assessments to all towns, including the revenue that was counted toward the assessments with the following result: Halifax at its April 1 meeting voted for FY25 is $6,965,138. Kingston voted $14,568,739 at its April 2 meeting, and Plympton voted $3,975,000 at its March 25 meeting.
The total cost of education for Halifax in FY25 is $15,580,356, representing a 4.9% increase over FY24. For Kingston, it is $31,312,851, a 10.6% increase over FY24. For Plympton, the total cost of education for FY25 is $7,279,885, a 6.8% increase over FY24. The total cost of education in the three towns is $54,173,093, or an 8.4% overall increase.
Silver Lake District Tier I proposed reductions in transportation and technology:
Reduce Late Bus by one day, savings $11,732; reduce Pre-K technology by $1500, Middle School Technology by $29,920, and High School Technology by $36,190. Subtotal $79,342 savings.
Tier II reductions include $5,700 PreK Technology, $17,500 in Middle School Technology, $15,000 in cuts to High School Technology, approx $40,000 in retirement savings due to two retirements and a proposal to move the food service director to the revolving account for a $98,715 reduction, so the Tier I reductions total $176,915 and Tier II reductions equal $256,257.
Silver Lake integrated pre-school reductions of $2,500 in supplies and dues and a reduction of $229,950 for out-of-district tuition. Tier II would be a staffing decrease of one full-time equivalent position of $65,000 so the Tier I reduction of $232,450 and Tier II reduction of $65,000 gives a total of $297,450. The integrated pre-school proposal reduction of one teacher has no impact on teaching and learning, according to administration. The IEP teams will use a data-driven process supplied by student evaluations and progress monitoring systems to determine the just right service level of each student. The model uses a four-day-a- week half-day preschool program model. Hickey went on to say that this approach will increase available seats for students with disabilities in the integrated preschool program.
Plympton’s representative to the committee Jason Fraser asked, “Did we find a way to do this without laying off anyone?” Through attrition and various commodities cuts, with the whole package of cuts, Superintendent Proulx answered “Yes, that is the intent.”
High school principal Michaela Gill reviewed her school’s budget and was able to come up with $151,600 in cuts without staff reduction; the biggest cuts were in supplies, new equipment replacement, and athletics. She noted that the largest share of supplies came from consumables in the Art and Science programs. She also noted that she was looking to make two FTE cuts. “Although we are absorbing them through attrition, they are currently vacant positions due to resignations or retirements.” Not filling those positions moving forward will still have an impact on student learning and a small impact on teaching stipends filled by teachers for extra-curricular programs.
Becky Couet, Middle School Principal, detailed budget cuts to her school with Tier 1 cuts totaling $81,943 coming from supplies, curriculum, and technology. Tier II cuts – staffing – brought one FTE unit saving $65,000. Total Tier I and Tier II proposed reductions of $146,943. Couet explained that the majority of the cuts were in supplies and consumables, new library books, art and music replenishment of some supplies, and supplementary reading resources.
From the principal’s line, dues, signage, PCIS incentives, and guest speakers all were reduced. Technology saw reduction of repair line, delay on the eFax program, no additional Adobe licenses, supplies, document cameras, reduction of Chromebook replacements, and limited docking station.
From the equipment line, conference tables and furniture all took a reduction as well as a flip-form riser for the music department. PD saw a 50% decrease in PD conference opportunities for all staff. Under Other, additional guest speakers, piano tuning, and transportation or interscholastic sports were reduced.
The total savings for Tier 1 are $545,318. Tier II Savings are $461,315.
Chairman Hatch noted that as the principals were enumerating their budget cuts they also said they could do without these things “next year”, meaning we should expect to see them back in the budget requests the following year.
Committee member Fraser pointed out that there would be circuit breaker funds flowing into the district next year. “We’re going to have to be very careful as to how we replace the items we’re cutting this year, but I see the ability for us to restore most, if not all of what we’re cutting this year, once we have circuit breaker next year.” Stating that it doesn’t necessarily mean that the schools replace exactly what’s on the cut list because “we need to take into account some of the areas of dire need that we’ve all been witness to over the past several years. “ Fraser predicted that while Silver Lake High School will be in a much better place next year, the town school committees will face serious challenges as their circuit breaker money runs out. He described a bounceback budget situation between the Lake and the locals. He explained that committees will need to work together as a whole to assess the total cost of education.
Hatch said she encourages everyone to attend town meetings to support their schools and the budget. “We don’t want to make cuts. We’ll make the smartest decisions we possibly can with all the factors that we have.”