Schools

Superintendent Wants $9.5 Million More to Run Framingham Schools

Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott will recommend a $111.65 million budget for the 2014-15 school year. Town Meeting would need to approve the budget in May.

This 2013-14 school year, the Framingham Public Schools is operating under a $102 million budget, as approved by Framingham Town Meeting in spring 2013.

Tuesday night, School Superintendent Stacy Scott will present his proposed budget for the 2014-15 school year at a public hearing in the King Administration Building at 7:30.

Scott's proposed Fiscal Year 2015 budget calls for a $9.5 million increase to a budget of $111,651,093. This is a 10 percent increase over the current operating budget.

The town's Chief Financial Officer Mary Ellen has recommended the Framingham Public Schools operate under a level-services budget for Fiscal Year 2015, at an estimated $106 million, or about a 4.5 percent increase.

A level services budget would allow for the schools to maintain current staffing and expenses but not to hire or add programs.

The CFO is also recommending an additional $1.2 million to the public school district to be used to open a ninth elementary school in town to deal with increased enrollment.

Scott in his presentation Tuesday night will state the Framingham Public Schools is dealing with:

  • Rising elementary student population
  • Limited staffing and resources
  • Limited leadership capacity
  • Limited resources for curriculum
  • Limited professional development
  • Falling proficiency and accountability levels
Scott, in his presentation, will state that the Framingham system is "a good school system" that is growing, but that it wants to be a "great school system" while he looks to "close achievement gaps."

Framingham Public Schools currently has one Level 1 school, five Level 2 schools and six Level 3 schools. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts considers level 1 as the best performing schools.

Scott in his presentation states it is the district's goal to only have no level 3 schools by school year 2017-18 and no level 2 schools by the school year of 2020-21. (see attached graphic)

Scott in his presentation also sees the Framingham School budget increasing to $133 million in school year 2017-18 and to $165 million to school year 2020-21. (see attached graphic)

In regards to the additional $9.5 million for the next school year, that proposed budget includes:

  • $954,231 - to open the King Administration building as the town's ninth elementary school
  • $1.2 million - to begin moving the district's six level 3 schools to a level 2 status.
  • $3.3 million - to fund a negotiated salary increase, steps and an additional professional development day
  • $1.53 million - increased special education tuition and transportation
  • $546,000 - for substitute teachers. The school district wants to outsource the subs which will save the town money but increase the school's operating budget
  • $533,000 - needed technology hardware and software
  • $425,767 - increased utility costs
  • $350,739  - new salaries

Framingham Patch will have more details on the proposed school budget in future reports.

The Framingham School Committee is scheduled to vote on the budget on March 25.

Framingham Town Meeting will have the final vote on the budget and will vote sometime in May.


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