Schools

Supt. Lowers Budget Request by $1.266 Million

Framingham Superintendent Stacy Scott will request $110.38 million to run the public schools in 2014-15; School Committee will vote on the budget March 25.

Earlier this month, Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott proposed a $111.65 million budget for the 2014-15 school year

After meeting with Town leaders, Scott told the School Committee he has lowered his request to $110.38 million, a $1.266 reduction.

Framingham Chief Financial Officer Mary Ellen Kelley is recommending 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.

The CFO and Scott are now $2.586 million apart.

Scott told the School Committee his objectives remain the same despite the $1.266 reduction in his budget proposal.

The primary focus is to prepare students for the 21st Century, to offer a rigorous academic program and to deliver to the school's customers (parents and students). 

Scott said the district is facing challenges, including reducing operating costs, overcrowding issues and reversing the slide to level 3 status.

To make the $1.266 million in cuts, Scott informed the School Committee his administration:

  • Reduced the technology and curriculum budgets by 20 percent
  • Eliminated the $300,000 costs to move school administration from the King Building to another location. (The district wants to open a ninth elementary school at King, thus administration, including the superintendent would need to move elsewhere.)
  • Used a conservative projection on special education costs, thus lowering that line item of the budget
  • Opted not to hire 10.5 staff positions that would have been used to rebuild the school system. (19.5 positions would still be created/hired at $780,000. The original proposal called for almost 30 positions added at $1.2 million to help bring level 3 schools to a level 2 status.)

"I do expect to sort our way through the (budget) gap" said Scott. 

The Framingham School Committee is expected to vote on Scott's recommended budget on Tuesday, March 25.

Town Meeting will have the final say on the budget in May.

School Committee members expressed concerns about lowering Scott's current proposed budget of $110.38 million, which is more than $8 million over this year's budget.

"I think if we go any further, it will be detrimental," said School Committee member Donald Taggart.

"This is a budget that sets a direction," said School Committee member Andy Limeri, who said it is up to the School Committee to make it clear that this budget is needed to move the district towards being a level 1 district.

Scott reminded the School Committee the district has endured "five years of cuts" and for the school district to be "healthy again," administration needs "push forward on a fairly well-articulated strategy to be a high quality program."

Scott said each of the almost 30 positions he wanted to add to the district "has its own story."

For example, two English language (ELD) teachers are needed at Wilson Elementary School as more than 60 percent of the students English is not their first language. The #1 priority at Barbieri Elementary was to add a social worker, said Scott.

Both Wilson and Barbieri Elementary schools are categorized as level 3, or underperforming schools, by the state. In fact, half of Framingham's schools are categorized as Level 3 by the Commonwealth.

School Committee member David Miles, whose term ends April 1, said he wanted more detail from Scott on his proposed $110 million budget. He said he wanted to see where the money was going and what the money would do, as he is not a fan of just adding bodies.

Scott said it is his plan to grow the system "conceptually different" than it had been done in the past.

He said he wanted to redesign the system so it can meet the needs of its students. 

School Committee Eric Silverman told Scott he didn't want him to lose sight of the big picture. He wants Framingham to be a cutting edge district that is nationally-recognized and does more than meet the needs of its students, but that students get experiences and options they can not get anywhere else.

Scott said it was important for the school district to add middle managers.
"The system cut that segment of its resources to survive and to keep teachers in the classrooms," said Scott. "It was kind of like cutting off arms and legs and truing to get anywhere. We have very talented teachers and they need the support of (middle managers) to do their jobs."

Positions Scott is looking at adding, under his $780,000 proposed rebuilding budget line item include:
  • Social Studies teacher at Fuller Middle - $50,000
  • English teacher at Framingham High - $50,000
  • English Language teacher at McCarthy Elementary - $50,000
  • Half-time English Language Development coach at Brophy Elementary - $25,000
  • Half-time English Language teacher at Brophy - $25,000
  • Adolescent Health Nurse - $20,000
  • Barbieri Grade 5 teacher - $50,000
  • English Language Development Coordinator at Wilson - $50,000
  • McCarthy Grade 1 teacher - $50,000
  • 2 English Language teachers at Wilson - $50,000 each
  • Special Education Assistant Teacher at Fuller Middle - $25,000
  • Clinical Care Coordinator at Framingham High - $45,000
  • Dunning Grade 5 teacher - $50,000
  • 2.5 Intinerent Specialist at $50,000
  • Occupational Therapist - $70,000
  • Special Education Teacher at McCarthy - $50,000
  • Title 1 Interventionist at Mccarthy - $8,000


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here